Layer and Egg Numbers Up in May

WASHINGTON - Jun 22/04 - SNS -- Egg production in the United States during May rose 2% to 7.50 billion, mirroring the increase in the number of layers by 2% to 343 million when compared to year earlier levels, according to the latest USDA data.

Egg production included 6.39 billion table eggs, and 1.11 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.05 billion were broiler-type and 59.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during May 2004 averaged 342 million, up 2% from a year earlier. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,192 eggs, up 1% from May 2003.

All layers in the U.S. on June 1, 2004, totaled 343 million, up 2% from a year ago. The 343 million layers consisted of 283 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 57.4 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.41 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on June 1, 2004, averaged 70.3 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 7.00 billion eggs during May 2004, up 2% from a year ago. The average number of layers during May, at 319 million, was up 2% from a year ago.

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