September Egg Production Up Slightly - US - U.S. egg production totaled 7.38 billion during September 2005, up slightly from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report.

Production included 6.31 billion table eggs, and 1.07 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.01 billion were broiler-type and 59 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 2005 averaged 342 million, down 1 percent from a year earlier. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,155 eggs, up 1 percent from September 2004.

All layers in the U.S. on October 1, 2005, totaled 343 million, down slightly from a year ago. The 343 million layers consisted of 286 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 55.1 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.46 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on October 1, 2005, averaged 71.9 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from October 1, 2004.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 8 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during September 2005 totaled 33.8 million, down 8 percent from September 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 31.8 million on October 1, 2005, down 5 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 375,000 during September 2005, up 83 percent from September 2004.

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

Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 21st October 2005