Egg Output Rises in February

WASHINGTON - Mar 24/06 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States rose in February, according to the latest USDA data, totalling 6.97 billion, up 1% from last year.

Production included 5.99 billion table eggs, and 989 million hatching eggs, of which 927 million were broiler-type and 62 million were egg-type. The number of layers during February 2006 averaged 350 million, up slightly from a year earlier. February egg production per 100 layers was 1,995 eggs, also up slightly from February 2005.

All layers in the U.S. on March 1, 2006, totaled 350 million, up slightly from a year ago. The 350 million layers consisted of 291 million layers producing table-type eggs, 56 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.91 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2006, averaged 71.6 eggs per 100 layers, down slightly from March 1, 2005.

Egg-type chicks hatched during February 2006 totaled 33.7 million, down 1% from February 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 36.5 million on March 1, 2006 down 1% from a year ago.

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