SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION INCREASES

Columbia, S.C., May 22, 2006: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks produced160; 104 million eggs during April, up 4 percent from the previous year, according to USDA NASS, South Carolina Field Office. Production totaled 85 million table eggs and 19 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 5,103,000 birds, up 3 percent from 4,995,000 birds a year ago. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,038 eggs, compared with 2,018 in April 2005.

UNITED STATES egg production totaled 7.54 billion during April 2006, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 6.48 billion table eggs, and 1.07 billion hatching eggs, of which 998 million were broiler-type and 68 million were egg-type. The number of layers during April 2006 averaged 348 million, up 1 percent from a year earlier. April egg production per 100 layers was 2,164 eggs, up slightly from April 2005.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION DECREASES

During the month of April, SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 18.3 million chicks, down 1 percent from the previous year.

The UNITED STATES broiler-type chicks hatched during April 2006 totaled 787 million, down 1 percent from April 2005. Eggs in incubators totaled 658 million on May 1, 2006, down 1 percent from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

         Rhonda Brandt, State Director

         Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician