Egg Output Rises in April

WASHINGTON - May 23/05 - SNS -- Egg production rose slightly in April to 7.39 billion eggs, according to the latest USDA monthly data.

Production included 6.29 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.04 billion were broiler-type and 63 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during April 2005 averaged 344 million, up slightly from a year earlier. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,148 eggs, unchanged from April 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on May 1, 2005, totaled 343 million, up slightly from a year ago. The 343 million layers consisted of 283 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.4 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.68 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2005, averaged 71.4 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2005 totaled 38.3 million, up 2% from April 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.9 million on May 1, 2005, up 8% from a year ago.

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