SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION DOWN

COLUMBIA, S.C., August 24, 2005: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks produced 103 million eggs during July, down 12 percent from last year, according to the USDA NASS, South Carolina Field Office. Production totaled 81 million table eggs and 22 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 5,037,000 birds, down 4 percent from the 5,246,000 a year ago. July egg production per 100 layers was 2,045 eggs, compared with 2,230 in July 2004.

The UNITED STATES egg production totaled 7.56 billion during July 2005, up slightly from last year. Production included 6.44 billion table eggs, and 1.12 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type and 62 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during July 2005 averaged 340 million, down 1 percent from a year earlier. July egg production per 100 layers was 2,222 eggs, up 1 percent from July 2004.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION UP

During the month of July SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 18.7 million chicks, up 35 percent from a year ago.

Broiler-type chicks hatched during July 2005 totaled 808 million, up slightly from July 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 663 million on July 1, 2005, down slightly from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

                                        Robert A. Graham, Director

                                        Stan Cheek, Poultry Statistician

                                        Office Telephone: (803) 765-5333