U.S. Egg Output Rises in September

WASHINGTON - Oct 23/06 - SNS -- Egg production inched up 1% from year earlier levels during September, reaching 7.42 billion , according to the USDA.

Production included 6.38 billion table eggs, and 1.04 billion hatching eggs, of which 977 million were broiler-type and 63 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 2006 averaged 343 million, up slightly from last year. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,165 eggs, up slightly from September 2005.

All layers in the U.S. on October 1, 2006, totaled 343 million, up slightly from last year. The 343 million layers consisted of 288 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 53.2 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.65 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on October 1, 2006, averaged 71.7 eggs per 100 layers, down slightly from October 1, 2005.

Egg-type chicks hatched during September 2006 totaled 36.8 million, up 10% from September 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.2 million on October 1, 2006, up 4% from a year ago.

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