U.S. Egg Output Rises 1% in December

WASHINGTON - Jan 30/04 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States during December ended up 1% higher than the same month the previous year, according to the USDA.,

Production totaled 7.53 billion during December 2003, up 1% from last year. Production included 6.48 billion table eggs, and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 995 million were broiler-type and 61.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December 2003 averaged 339 million, down 1% from a year earlier. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,225 eggs, up 2% from December 2002.

All layers in the U.S. on January 1, 2004, totaled 337 million, down 1% from a year ago. The 337 million layers consisted of 280 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 55.0 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.44 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2004, averaged 71.0 eggs per 100 layers, up 2% from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 7.02 billion eggs during December 2003, up 1% from a year ago. The average number of layers during December, at 316 million, was down 1% from a year ago.

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