SOUTH CAROLINA EGG PRODUCTION DOWN

Columbia, S.C., December 30, 2004: SOUTH CAROLINA'S laying flocks produced  115 million eggs during November, down 3 percent from last year, according to the USDA-NASS, South Carolina Statistical Office. Production totaled 96 million table eggs and 19 million hatching eggs. The number of layers averaged 5,264,000 birds, which was down 3 percent from 5,402,000 a year ago. November egg production per 100 layers was 2,185 eggs, compared with 2,184 in November 2003.

U.S. egg production totaled 7.46 billion during November 2004, up 2 percent from last year. Production included 6.42 billion table eggs, and 1.04 billion hatching eggs, of which 980 million were broiler-type and 59 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during November 2004 averaged 343 million, up 2 percent from a year earlier. November egg production per 100 layers was 2,170 eggs, up slightly from November 2003

SOUTH CAROLINA BROILER HATCHERY PRODUCTION UP

During the month of November SOUTH CAROLINA'S broiler hatcheries produced 15.96 million chicks, up 13 percent from 14.16 million chicks in November of 2003.

The November 2004 hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 731 million, was up 3 percent from November of the previous year. There were 645 million eggs in incubators on December 1, 2004, up 1 percent from a year earlier.

For additional information call:

         Robert A. Graham, State Director

         Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician

         Office Telephone: (803) 765-5333