March Egg Production Up 1 Percent - US - U.S. egg production totaled 7.84 billion during March 2006, up 1 percent from last year, report the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) in their monthly Chickens and Eggs report.

Production included 6.73 billion table eggs, and 1.11 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.04 billion were broiler-type and 69 million were egg-type. The number of layers during March 2006 averaged 350 million, up 1 percent from last year. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,239 eggs, up slightly from March 2005.

All layers in the U.S. on April 1, 2006, totaled 350 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 350 million layers consisted of 292 million layers producing table-type eggs, 55.5 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.84 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on April 1, 2006, averaged 72.8 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from April 1, 2005.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Down 7 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during March 2006 totaled 38.9 million, down 7 percent from March 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.8 million on April 1, 2006, down 5 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 286,000 during March 2006, down 9 percent from March 2005.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up Slightly

Broiler-type chicks hatched during March 2006 totaled 817 million, up slightly from March 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 659 million on April 1, 2006, down slightly from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 7.01 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during March 2006, down 1 percent from March 2005.

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

Source: USDA NASS - Chickens and Eggs Report - 21st April 2006