SOUTH CAROLINA VALUE OF POULTRY PRODUCTION UP

Columbia, S.C., May 2, 2005:The value of SOUTH CAROLINA’S broiler, egg and turkey production plus sales from chickens in 2004 was$791.0 million, up 24 percent from the 2003 value of $637.1 million, according to USDA, South Carolina Statistical Office.

          The value of broilers produced during 2004 was $521.9 million, up 34 percent from the $389.3 million in 2003. The total number of broilers produced in 2004 was 204.5 million, up 4 percent from the 197.4 million in 2003. Value of egg production in 2004 was $82.8 million, down 5 percent from $87.2 million in 2003. In 2004, eggs averaged 55.4 cents per dozen compared to 59.4 cents in 2003. The value of turkeys produced in 2004 was $185.3 million, up 16 percent from $159.6 million in 2003. Turkey production totaled 463 million pounds in 2004, up 2 percent from the 456 million pounds in 2003. The value of chickens sold for slaughter was $1.1 million in 2001, up 4 percent form 2003.

          The UNITED STATES’ combined value of production from broilers, eggs, turkeys, and the value of sales from chickens in 2004, was $28.9 billion, up 24 percent from the $23.3 billion in 2003. Of the combined total, 71 percent was from broilers, 18 percent from eggs, 11 percent from turkeys, and less than 1 percent from chickens.

          The value of broilers produced during 2004 was $20.4 billion, up 34 percent from 2003. The total number of broilers produced in 2004 was 8.74 billion, up 3 percent from 2003. The total amount of live weight broilers produced in 2004 was 45.8 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 2003. The 2004 average price per pound on a live weight equivalent basis was 44.6 cents per pound, compared with 34.6 cents in 2003.          

          Value of all egg production in 2004 was $5.30 billion, down 1 percent from the $5.33 billion in 2003. Egg production totaled 89.1 billion eggs, up 2 percent from the 87.5 billion eggs produced in 2003. In 2004, all eggs averaged 71.4 cents per dozen, compared with 73.2 cents in 2003.

          The value of turkeys produced during 2004 was $3.07 billion, up 14 percent from the $2.70 billion the previous year. Turkey production in 2004 totaled 7.30 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the 7.49 billion pounds produced in 2003. The average price received by producers during 2004 was 42.0 cents per pound, compared with 36.1 cents in 2003.

          The value of sales from chickens (excluding broilers) in 2004 was $58.0 million, up 21 percent from the $47.8 million a year ago. Prices averaged 5.8 cents per pound, compared with 4.9 cents in 2003. The number of chickens sold in 2004 totaled 192 million, up 1 percent from the total sold during the previous year.

For additional information call:

          Robert A. Graham, State Statistician

          Stan Cheek, Agricultural Statistician

          (803)765-5333