Modest Gain in U.S. Egg Output

WASHINGTON - Aug 23/05 - SNS -- U.S. egg production totaled 7.56 billion during July 2005, up slightly from last year, according to the USDA.

Production included 6.44 billion table eggs, and 1.12 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type and 62 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during July 2005 averaged 340 million, down 1% from a year earlier. July egg production per 100 layers was 2,222 eggs, up 1% from July 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on August 1, 2005, totaled 340 million, down 1% from a year ago. The 340 million layers consisted of 282 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 55.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.63 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on August 1, 2005, averaged 71.0 eggs per 100 layers, same as a year ago.

Egg-type chicks hatched during July 2005 totaled 35.3 million, up 1% from July 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.3 million on August 1, 2005, up 12% from a year ago.

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