Egg Output Climbs in March

WASHINGTON - Apr 23/04 - SNS -- Egg production rose 1% above last year in March, totalling 7.53 billion, according to the latest USDA data. Production included 6.44 billion table eggs, and 1.09 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 58.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during March 2004 averaged 341 million, up slightly from a year earlier. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,209 eggs, up 1% from March 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on April 1, 2004, totaled 342 million, up 1% from a year ago. The 342 million layers consisted of 283 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 56.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.44 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on April 1, 2004, averaged 72.0 eggs per 100 layers, up 2% from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 7.03 billion eggs during March 2004, up 1% from a year ago. The average number of layers during March, at 318 million, was up slightly from a year ago.

Egg-type chicks hatched during March totaled 37.5 million, up 2% from March 2003. Eggs in incubators totaled 33.9 million on April 1, 2004, down 3% from a year ago.

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