U.S. Egg Output Rises in December

WASHINGTON - Jan 24/05 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States rose 2% above year earlier levels in December to 7.70 billion, according to the USDA.

Production included 6.62 billion table eggs, and 1.08 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.02 billion were broiler-type and 62 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December 2004 averaged 345 million, up 2% from a year earlier. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,235 eggs, up 1% from December 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on January 1, 2005, totaled 346 million, up 3% from a year ago. The 346 million layers consisted of 287 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 56.2 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.72 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2005, averaged 71.3 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from a year ago.

Egg-type chicks hatched during December totaled 37.0 million, up 10% from December 2003. Eggs in incubators totaled 34.4 million on January 1, 2005, up 9% from a year ago.

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