April Egg Production Down 1 Percent

Production included 6.34 billion table eggs, and 1.09 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 66 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during April 2007 averaged 344 million, down 1 percent from last year. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,162 eggs, down slightly from April 2006.

All layers in the U.S. on May 1, 2007 totaled 342 million, down 1 percent from last year. The 342 million layers consisted of 283 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 56.5 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.87 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on May 1, 2007, averaged 71.1 eggs per 100 layers, down slightly from May 1, 2006.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 12 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during April 2007 totaled 39.7 million, up 12 percent from April 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 36.8 million on May 1, 2007, down 2 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 274,000 during April 2007, up 8 percent from April 2006.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 2 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2007 totaled 801 million, up 2 percent from April 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 680 million on May 1, 2007, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.69 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during April 2007, up 2 percent from April 2006.

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