SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION DOWN

Columbia, S.C., OCTOBER 21, 2005: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks produced 105 million eggs during September, down 6 percent from last year, accordi6ng to the South Carolina Agricultural Statistics Service. Production totaled 85 million table eggs and 20 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 4,825,000 birds, down 8 percent from 5,228,000 a year ago. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,135 eggs, compared with 2,295 in September 2004.

UNITED STATES egg production totaled 7.38 billion during September 2005, up slightly from last year. Production included 6.31 billion table eggs, and 1.07 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.01 billion were broiler-type and 59 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during September 2005 averaged 342 million, down 1 percent from a year earlier. September egg production per 100 layers was 2,155 eggs, up 1 percent from September 2004.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION UP

During the month of September SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 18.1 million chicks, up 26 percent from 14.4 million chicks in September of 2004.

The UNITED STATES broiler-type chicks hatched during September 2005 totaled 770 million, down slightly from September 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 632 million on October 1, 2005, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

          Robert A. Graham, State Director

          Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician