Slight Dip In January Egg Output

WASHINGTON - Feb 23/04 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States slipped below year earlier levels during January, totalling 7.38 billion, according to the USDA.

Production included 6.32 billion table eggs, and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 996 million were broiler-type and 60.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during January 2004 averaged 338 million, down 1% from a year earlier. January egg production per 100 layers was 2,184 eggs, up 1% from January 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on February 1, 2004, totaled 338 million, down 1% from a year ago. The 338 million layers consisted of 280 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 55.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.48 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on February 1, 2004, averaged 69.8 eggs per 100 layers, down slightly from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.88 billion eggs during January 2004, down 1% from a year ago. The average number of layers during January, at 315 million, was down 1% from a year ago.

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