Chickens and Eggs (Released March 22, 2012)

摘要

United States egg production totaled 7.24 billion during February 2012, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 6.25 billion table eggs, and 987 million hatching eggs, of which 914 million were broiler-type and 73 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during February 2012 averaged 338 million, down slightly from last year. February egg production per 100 layers was 2,140 eggs, up 4 percent from February 2011. All layers in the United States on March 1, 2012 totaled 339 million, down slightly from last year. The 339 million layers consisted of 285 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 50.8 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.10 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on March 1, 2012, averaged 74.0 eggs per 100 layers, up slightly from March 1, 2011. Egg-type chicks hatched during February 2012 totaled 39.3 million, up 5 percent from February 2011. Eggs in incubators totaled 39.3 million on March 1, 2012, down 2 percent from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 238 thousand during February 2012, down 2 percent from February 2011. Broiler-type chicks hatched during February 2012 totaled 705 million, down 1 percent from February 2011. Eggs in incubators totaled 611 million on March 1, 2012, down 5 percent from a year earlier. Leading breeders placed 7.03 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during February 2012, down 1 percent from February 2011.