U.S. Egg Output Rises in March

WASHINGTON - Apr 22/05 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States totaled 7.73 billion during March 2005, up 2% from last year, according to the latest USDA data.

Production included 6.60 billion table eggs, and 1.13 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.07 billion were broiler-type and 63 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during March 2005 averaged 347 million, up 2% from a year earlier. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,225 eggs, up 1% from March 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on April 1, 2005, totaled 345 million, up 1% from a year ago. The 345 million layers consisted of 286 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 56.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.63 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on April 1, 2005, averaged 71.8 eggs per 100 layers, down slightly from a year ago.

Egg-type chicks hatched during March totaled 40.0 million, up 6% from March 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 34.1 million on April 1, 2005, up 2% from a year ago.

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