Modest Increase in U.S. Egg Output

WASHINGTON - Sep 22/06 - SNS -- Egg production managed a 1% increase in the United States in August, according to the latest USDA report on the sector.

Production included 6.56 billion table eggs, and 1.08 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.01 billion were broiler-type and 65 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during August 2006 averaged 341 million, up slightly from last year. August egg production per 100 layers was 2,239 eggs, up 1% from August 2005.

All layers in the U.S. on September 1, 2006, totaled 342 million, up 1% from last year. The 342 million layers consisted of 285 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 53.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.73 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on September 1, 2006, averaged 72.6 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from September 1, 2005.

Egg-type chicks hatched during August 2006 totaled 34.9 million, down 10% from August 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.8 million on September 1, 2006, up 4% from a year ago.

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