U.S. Egg Output Inches Upward

WASHINGTON - Mar 22/05 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States inched above year earlier levels to 6.91 billion during February 2005, according to the USDA.

Production included 5.90 billion table eggs, and 1.01 billion hatching eggs, of which 956 million were broiler-type and 58 million were egg-type.

The total number of layers during February 2005 averaged 349 million, up 3% from a year earlier. February egg production per 100 layers was 1,980 eggs, down 3% from February 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on March 1, 2005, totaled 349 million, up 3% from a year ago. The 349 million layers consisted of 289 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.1 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.64 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2005, averaged 71.4 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

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