February Egg Production Up 3 Percent - US - U.S. egg production totaled 6.89 billion during February 2004, up 3 percent from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report.

Production included 5.89 billion table eggs, and 1.00 billion hatching eggs, of which 948 million were broiler-type and 54.0 million were egg-type.

The total number of layers during February 2004 averaged 339 million, down slightly from a year earlier.

February egg production per 100 layers was 2,033 eggs, up 4 percent from February 2003.

February 2004 contained 29 days due to the leap year.

Both February 2004 and February 2003 contained 20 weekdays, 1 holiday, and 4 Saturdays

All layers in the U.S. on March 1, 2004, totaled 340 million, down slightly from a year ago. The 340 million layers consisted of 281 million layers producing table or commercial type eggs, 56.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.44 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2004, averaged 70.5 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from a year ago.

Laying flocks in the 30 major egg producing States produced 6.44 billion eggs during February 2004, up 3 percent from a year ago. The average number of layers during February, at 316 million, was down 1 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.

Special Note

Preliminary 2002 Census data were used in the review process for the revised 2002 and 2003 layer and egg estimates in this publication. The revised estimates may appear disjointed from historical data until the release of the 5 - year Final Estimates publications which are scheduled for April 29, 2004.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 7 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during February totaled 32.1 million, up 7 percent from February 2003. Eggs in incubators totaled 34.3 million on March 1, 2004, up 12 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 285,000 during February 2004, up 29 percent from February 2003.

Broiler Hatch Up 5 Percent

The February 2004 hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 728 million, was up 5 percent from February of the previous year. There were 648 million eggs in incubators on March 1, 2004, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 7.3 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during February 2004, up 10 percent from February 2003.

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

Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 23rd March 2004