Egg Output Advances in April

WASHINGTON - May 21/04 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States rose 2% above last year during April, with the USDA pegging out put at 7.34 billion.

Production included 6.28 billion table eggs, and 1.07 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.01 billion were broiler-type and 58.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during April 2004 averaged 342 million, up 1% from a year earlier. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,148 eggs, up 1% from April 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on May 1, 2004, totaled 342 million, up 1% from a year ago. The 342 million layers consisted of 282 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 57.2 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.49 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2004, averaged 71.0 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.85 billion eggs during April 2004, up 2% from a year ago. The average number of layers during April, at 319 million, was up 1% from a year ago.

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