February Egg Production Up 3 Percent - US - US egg production totaled 7.61 billion during January 2005, up 3 percent from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report. U.S. egg production totaled 6.91 billion during February 2005, up slightly from last year. Production included 5.90 billion table eggs, and 1.01 billion hatching eggs, of which 956 million were broiler-type and 58 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during February 2005 averaged 349 million, up 3 percent from a year earlier. February egg production per 100 layers was 1,980 eggs, down 3 percent from February 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on March 1, 2005, totaled 349 million, up 3 percent from a year ago. The 349 million layers consisted of 289 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.1 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.64 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2005, averaged 71.4 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from a year ago. February 2005 contained 28 days, while February 2004 contained 29 days due to the leap year.

Average Number of All Layers United States 2002 - 2005

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during February totaled 32.9 million, up 3 percent from February 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 34.7 million on March 1, 2005, up 1 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 208,000 during February 2005, down 27 percent from February 2004.

Broiler Hatch Up Slightly

The February 2005 hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 731 million, was up slightly from February of the previous year. There were 659 million eggs in incubators on March 1, 2005, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 7.21 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during February 2005, down 2 percent from February 2004.

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

Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 22nd March 2005