Small Advance in U.S. Egg Output

WASHINGTON - Jun 21/05 - SNS -- Egg production rose 1% in the United States in May, according to the latest data from the USDA, totalling 7.56 billion.

Production included 6.43 billion table eggs, and 1.13 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.07 billion were broiler-type and 65 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during May 2005 averaged 342 million, down slightly from a year earlier. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,210 eggs, up one% from May 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on June 1, 2005, totaled 342 million, down one% from a year ago. The 342 million layers consisted of 282 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 56.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.70 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on June 1, 2005, averaged 71.3 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

Egg-type chicks hatched during May 2005 totaled 37.4 million, down 2% from May 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 33.2 million on June 1, 2005, down 4% from a year ago.

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