SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION DOWN

Columbia, S.C., JULY 26, 2005: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks produced 99 million eggs during June, down 6 percent from last year, according to the USDA-NASS, South Carolina Field Office. Production totaled 77 million table eggs and 22 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 5,018,000 birds, down 5 percent from 5,274,000 a year ago. June egg production per 100 layers was 1,973 eggs, compared with 1,991 in June 2004.

UNITED STATES egg production totaled 7.34 billion during June 2005, up 1 percent from last year. Production included 6.25 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.03 billion were broiler-type and 61 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during June 2005 averaged 341 million, down slightly from a year earlier. June egg production per 100 layers was 2,151 eggs, up 1 percent from June 2004.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION INCREASES

During the month of June SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 18.2 million chicks, up 36 percent from last year’s 13.39 million chicks.

The UNITED STATES broiler-type chicks hatched during June 2005 totaled 796 million, up 1 percent from June 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 658 million on July 1, 2005, down slightly from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

          Robert A. Graham, Director

          Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician

          Office Telephone: (803) 765-5333