October Egg Production Down Slightly - US - U.S. egg production totaled 7.39 billion during October 2003, down slightly from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report.

Production included 6.34 billion table eggs and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.00 billion were broiler-type and 57.0 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during October 2003 averaged 333 million, down 1 percent from a year earlier. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,218 eggs, up one percent from October 2002.

October 2003 and October 2002 both contained 23 weekdays, one holiday, and four Saturdays.

All layers in the U.S. on November 1, 2003, totaled 335 million, down 1 percent from a year ago. The 335 million layers consisted of 277 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 54.7 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.48 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on November 1, 2003, averaged 71.9 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.90 billion eggs during October 2003, down 1 percent from a year ago. The average number of layers during October, at 311 million, was down 2 percent from a year ago.

Individual State estimates are available for the 30 major egg producing States. These States are listed on page 8 of this release and account for approximately 94 percent of the total U.S. egg production. Production for the other States are grouped into an "Other States" category and combined with the 30 States published individually to obtain a U.S. estimate.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 9 percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during October totaled 35.0 million, up 9 percent from October 2002. Eggs in incubators totaled 29.5 million on November 1, 2003, down 2 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 306,000 during October 2003, up 65 percent from October 2002.

Broiler Hatch Up 2 Percent

The October 2003 hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 735 million, was up 2 percent from October of the previous year. There were 588 million eggs in incubators on November 1, 2003, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.5 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during October 2003, up 4 percent from October 2002.

Procedures and Reliability

Data Sources: Primary data for the "Chickens and Eggs" report are from weekly and/or monthly questionnaires sent to producers. An attempt is made to collect information for layer and egg estimates from each known contractor and independent producer who has over 30,000 table egg layers. Coverage for operations with less than 30,000 table egg layers are estimated each month based on data reported in December. Approximately 900 contractors, independent egg producers, and started pullet operations are contacted each month. All known hatcheries, approximately 330, are contacted for information on a weekly and/or monthly basis.

Revisions: The previous month's estimates are subject to revision if late reports or corrected data indicates a different level. Additionally, revisions needed after the monthly report will be made at the end of the marketing year and published in the annual summaries of "Chickens and Eggs Summary" and "Hatchery Production".

Procedures and Reliability: Operations are mailed a questionnaire and given adequate time to respond by mail. Those that do not respond are phoned. Great care is exercised to ensure that all operations are accounted for during each survey period. However, there are usually missing reports that must be accounted for in the estimates.

Sound statistical methodology is employed to derive estimates from the reported data. All data are checked for unusual values. All operations' data are compared to their own past operating profiles and also to trends from other operations. Data for missing operations are estimated based on similar operations or historical data. Survey data are subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions and mistakes in reporting and in processing. While these errors cannot be measured directly, they are minimized by reviewing all data for consistency and reasonableness.

Egg-type chicks hatched are comprised of all chicks of egg-type domesticated breeds including males and chicks destined for hatchery supply flocks and research purposes. The relationship of chicks hatched to chicken inventory and poultry marketings is carefully monitored. The disposition of egg-type chicks hatched prior to placement into the laying flock can vary significantly, which can make comparisons to changes in layer inventory inconsistent over time.

Intended placement data reported by leading breeders include pullet chicks expected from eggs sold the preceding month. The breeders in this report account for a large percentage of replacement pullets for hatchery supply flocks. Production of replacement pullets by these breeders indicates the number of pullets available to hatchery supply flocks several months before the pullets will actually move into the flocks. “Hatchery Supply Flocks” include all generations of layers which could lay eggs to supply a hatchery. This includes the generations of parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents, pedigree, etc. Also included are research flocks, vaccine flocks, and specific pathogen-free flocks.

The broiler cumulative potential placements are a moving total of the intended placements 7-15 months earlier. The eggtype cumulative potential placements of 7-18 months represent the first laying cycle. Molting and additional laying cycles will increase the cumulative potential placements of egg-type hatching flocks.

To view the full report, including tables, please click here

Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 21st November 2003