February Egg Production Up 3 Percent

U.S. egg production totaled 7.13 billion during February 2008, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 6.05 billion table eggs, and 1.07 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.01 billion were broiler-type and 64 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during February 2008 averaged 343 million, down 2 percent from last year. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,075 eggs, up 4 percent from February 2007.

All layers in the U.S. on March 1, 2008 totaled 343 million, down 2 percent from last year. The 343 million layers consisted of 282 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.6 million layers producing broilertype hatching eggs, and 2.84 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2008, averaged 72.3 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from March 1, 2007.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 2 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during February 2008 totaled 37.5 million, up 2 percent from February 2007. Eggs in incubators totaled 36.5 million on March 1, 2008, down 5 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 280 thousand during February 2008, up 69 percent from February 2007.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 7 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during February 2008 totaled 777 million, up 7 percent from February 2007. Eggs in incubators totaled 679 million on March 1, 2008, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 7.43 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during February 2008, up 5 percent from February 2007.

Further Reading

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