April Egg Production Up Slightly - US - U.S. egg production totaled 7.39 billion during April 2005, up slightly from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report. Production included 6.29 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.04 billion were broiler-type and 63 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during April 2005 averaged 344 million, up slightly from a year earlier. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,148 eggs, unchanged from April 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on May 1, 2005, totaled 343 million, up slightly from a year ago. The 343 million layers consisted of 283 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.4 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.68 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2005, averaged 71.4 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from a year ago.

All layers: 1st of month Rate of Lay United States 2002 - 2005 Eggs per 100 Layers

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 2 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2005 totaled 38.3 million, up 2 percent from April 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.9 million on May 1, 2005, up 8 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 308,000 during April 2005, down 10 percent from April 2004.

Broiler Hatch Up 2 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2005 totaled 790 million, up 2 percent from April 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 663 million on May 1, 2005, up slightly from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.80 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during April 2005, up 6 percent from April 2004.

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Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 23rd May 2005