Egg Production Advances 2%

WASHINGTON - Jul 23/02 - SNS -- Egg production posted a solid 2% advance during June as growth in table and broiler eggs offset declines in laying eggs, according to the latest USDA report.

U.S. egg production totaled 7.12 billion during June 2002, up 2% from last year. Production included 6.03 billion table eggs and 1.09 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 60.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during June 2002 averaged 335 million, up 1% from the total average number of layers during June 2001. June egg production per 100 layers was 2,124 eggs, up 1% from the 2,100 eggs in June 2001.

All layers in the U.S. on July 1, 2002, totaled 335 million, up 1% from a year ago. The 335 million layers consisted of 275 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 57.3 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.51 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on July 1, 2002, averaged 70.9 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.66 billion eggs during June 2002, up 2% from a year ago. The average number of layers during June, at 314 million, was up slightly from a year earlier.

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