Production included 6.53 billion table eggs, and 1.15 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.08 billion were broiler-type and 67 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during March 2008 averaged 342 million, down 2 percent from last year. March egg production per 100 layers was 2,244 eggs, up slightly from March 2007.

All layers in the U.S. on April 1, 2008 totaled 342 million, down 2 percent from last year. The 342 million layers consisted of 282 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.4 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, 2008, averaged 72.4 eggs per 100 layers, down 1 percent from April 1, 2007.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during March 2008 totaled 39.5 million, up 3 percent from March 2007. Eggs in incubators totaled 37.6 million on April 1, 2008, down 2 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 245 thousand during March 2008, down 22 percent from March 2007.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during March 2008 totaled 833 million, up 3 percent from March 2007. Eggs in incubators totaled 674 million on April 1, 2008, up 1 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 7.09 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during March 2008, down 1 percent from March 2007.

Further Reading

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