February Egg Production Down 1 Percent
United States egg production totaled 7.19 billion during February 2013, down 1 percent from last year. Production included 6.23 billion table eggs, and 962 million hatching eggs, of which 893 million were broiler-type and 69 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during February 2013 averaged 344 million, up 2 percent from last year. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,088 eggs, down 2 percent from February 2012.
All layers in the United States on March 1, 2013 totaled 345 million, up 2 percent from last year. The 345 million layers consisted of 291 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 51.7 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.98 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2013, averaged 74.3 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from March 1, 2012.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 4 Percent
Egg-type chicks hatched during February 2013 totaled 40.8 million, up 4 percent from February 2012. Eggs in incubators totaled 41.8 million on March 1, 2013, up 6 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 236 thousand during February 2013, down 1 percent from February 2012.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Down 2 Percent
Broiler-type chicks hatched during February 2013 totaled 690 million, down 2 percent from February 2012. Eggs in incubators totaled 622 million on March 1, 2013, up 2 percent from a year earlier.
Leading breeders placed 7.16 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during February 2013, up 2 percent from February 2012.
Source: USDA