SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION DOWN

Columbia, S.C., NOVEMBER 22, 2005: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks  produced 111 million eggs during October, down 3 percent from last year, according to the USDA NASS, South Carolina Field Office. Production totaled 90 million table eggs and 21 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 5,037,000 birds, which was down from 5,222,000 a year ago. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,204 eggs, compared with 2,202 in October 2004.

UNITED STATES egg production totaled 7.70 billion during October 2005, up one percent from last year. Production included 6.60 billion table eggs, and 1.10 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.04 billion were broiler-type and 60 million were egg-type. The number of layers during October 2005 averaged 344 million, down slightly from a year earlier. October egg production per 100 layers was 2,239 eggs, up 1 percent from October 2004.

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION UP

During the month of October SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 18.3 million chicks, up 18 percent from October of 2004.

The UNITED STATES broiler-type chicks hatched during October 2005 totaled 776 million, up 3 percent from October 2004. Eggs in incubators totaled 624 million on November 1, 2005, up 3 percent from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

         Robert A. Graham, Director

         Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician

         Office Telephone: (803) 765-5333