Production included 6.65 billion table eggs, and 1.12 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type and 68 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during March 2007 averaged 346 million, down 1 percent from last year. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,243 eggs, up slightly from March 2006.

All layers in the U.S. on April 1, 2007 totaled 346 million, down 1 percent from last year. The 346 million layers consisted of 286 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 56.3 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.80 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on April 1, 2007, averaged 73.0 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from April 1, 2006.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 4 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during March 2007 totaled 40.5 million, up 4 percent from March 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 39.5 million on April 1, 2007, up 11 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 316,000 during March 2007, up 21 percent from March 2006.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Down 1 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during March 2007 totaled 811 million, down 1 percent from March 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 667 million on April 1, 2007, up 1 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.66 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during March 2007, down 5 percent from March 2006.

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