January Egg Production Up 1 Percent - US - U.S. egg production totaled 7.72 billion during January 2006, up 1 percent from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report.

Production included 6.62 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 66 million were egg-type. The number of layers during January 2006 averaged 349 million, up slightly from a year earlier. January egg production per 100 layers was 2,211 eggs, up 1 percent from January 2005.

All layers in the U.S. on February 1, 2006, totaled 349 million, up slightly from a year ago. The 349 million layers consisted of 291 million layers producing table-type eggs, 55.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.90 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on February 1, 2006, averaged 70.8 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from February 1, 2005.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 7 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during January 2006 totaled 35.4 million, down 7 percent from January 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 33.5 million on February 1, 2006 down 2 percent from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 188,000 during January 2006, up 20 percent from January 2005.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 1 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during January 2006 totaled 804 million, up 1 percent from January 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 661 million on February 1, 2006, up 1 percent from a year earlier. Leading breeders placed 6.83 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during January 2006, up 6 percent from January 2005.

To view the full report, including tables, please click here (PDF)

Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 28th February 2006