February Egg Production Up 2 Percent
United States egg production totaled 7.36 billion during February 2014, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 6.40 billion table eggs, and 968 million hatching eggs, of which 899 million were broiler-type and 69 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during February 2014averaged 350 million, up 1 percent from last year. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,104 eggs, up 1 percent from February 2013.
All layers in the United States on March 1, 2014 totaled 350 million, up 1 percent from last year. The 350 million layers consisted of 294 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 52.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.02 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2014, averaged 75.3 eggs per 100 layers, up 1 percent from March 1, 2013.
Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up Slightly
Egg-type chicks hatched during February 2014 totaled 40.4 million, up slightly from February 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 38.5 million on March 1, 2014, down 7 percent from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 226 thousand during February 2014, up 1 percent from February 2013.
Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Down Slightly
Broiler-type chicks hatched during February 2014 totaled 689 million, down slightly from February 2013. Eggs in incubators totaled 625 million on March 1, 2014, up 1 percent from a year earlier.
Leading breeders placed 7.30 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during February 2014, up 2 percent from February 2013.
Source: USDA