Egg Production up in February

WASHINGTON - Mar 22/04 - SNS -- Egg production managed a solid 3% increase over year earlier levels during February, reaching 6.89 billion, according to the latest USDA data.

Production included 5.89 billion table eggs, and 1.00 billion hatching eggs, of which 948 million were broiler-type and 54.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during February 2004 averaged 339 million, down slightly from a year earlier. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,033 eggs, up 4% from February 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on March 1, 2004, totaled 340 million, down slightly from a year ago. The 340 million layers consisted of 281 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 56.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.44 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2004, averaged 70.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.44 billion eggs during February 2004, up 3% from a year ago. The average number of layers during February, at 316 million, was down 1% from a year ago.

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