U.S. egg production totaled 7.38 billion during April 2008, down 1 percent from last year. Production included 6.28 billion table eggs, and 1.11 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.04 billion were broiler-type and 66 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during April 2008 averaged 341 million, down 1 percent from last year. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,164 eggs, up slightly from April 2007.

All layers in the U.S. on May 1, 2008 totaled 341 million, down 1 percent from last year. The 341 million layers consisted of 280 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.7 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.84 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2008, averaged 71.8 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from May 1, 2007.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 5 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2008 totaled 41.1 million, up 5 percent from April 2007. Eggs in incubators totaled 39.6 million on May 1, 2008, up 10 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 264 thousand during April 2008, down 4 percent from April 2007.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Down Slightly

Broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2008 totaled 797 million, down slightly from April 2007. Eggs in incubators totaled 665 million on May 1, 2008, down 2 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.87 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during April 2008, up 3 percent from April 2007.

Further Reading

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