US: September egg production down slightly

United States egg production totaled 7.51 billion during September 2011, down slightly from last year.

Production included 6.49 billion table eggs, and 1.02 billion hatching eggs, of which 952 million were broiler-type and 68 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 2011 averaged 336 million, down 1% from last year. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,236 eggs, up 1% from September 2010.

All layers in the United States on October 1, 2011 totaled 335 million, down slightly from last year. The 335 million layers consisted of 281 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 51.2 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.95 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on October 1, 2011, averaged 74.6 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from October 1, 2010.

Egg-type chicks hatched up slightly
Egg-type chicks hatched during September 2011 totaled 40.3 million, up slightly from September 2010. Eggs in incubators totaled 36.5 million on October 1, 2011, down 8% from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 274 thousand during September 2011, up 9% from September 2010.

Broiler-type chicks hatched down 5%
Broiler-type chicks hatched during September 2011 totaled 721 million, down 5% from September 2010. Eggs in incubators totaled 572 million on October 1, 2011, down 8% from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.66 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during September 2011, down 7% from September 2010.