Production included 6.63 billion table eggs, and 1.13 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type and 67 million were eggtype. The total number of layers during December 2007 averaged 344 million, down 1 percent from last year. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,256 eggs, up 1 percent from December 2006.

All layers in the U.S. on January 1, 2008 totaled 345 million, down 1 percent from last year. The 345 million layers consisted of 285 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.2 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.75 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2008, averaged 72.4 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from January 1, 2007.

Egg-Type Chicks Hatched Up 7 Percent

Egg-type chicks hatched during December 2007 totaled 35.5 million, up 7 percent from December 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.8 million on January 1, 2008, up 4 percent from a year ago.

Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 245 thousand during December 2007, up 4 percent from December 2006.

Broiler-Type Chicks Hatched Up 3 Percent

Broiler-type chicks hatched during December 2007 totaled 823 million, up 3 percent from December 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 677 million on January 1, 2008, up 4 percent from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.75 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during December 2007, down 6 percent from December 2006.

Further Reading

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