SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION INCREASES

Columbia, S.C., January 26, 2005: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks produced 123 million eggs during December, up 2 percent from the previous year, according to USDA NASS, South Carolina Statistical Office. Production totaled 104 million table eggs and 19 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 5,332,000 birds, less than 1 percent below the 5,343,000 a year ago. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,307 eggs, compared with 2,265 in December 2003.

UNITED STATES egg production totaled 7.70 billion during December 2004, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 6.62 billion table eggs, and 1.08 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.02 billion were broiler-type and 62 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December 2004 averaged 345 million, up 2 percent from a year earlier. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,235 eggs, up 1 percent from December 2003.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION INCREASES

During the month of December, SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 16.9 million chicks, up 22 percent from the previous year.

The UNITED STATES December 2004 hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 793 million, was up 2 percent from December of the previous year. There were 651 million eggs in incubators on January 1, 2005, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

         Robert A. Graham, State Director

         Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician