WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) monthly Chickens and Eggs Report showed lower egg production in August as flock numbers continued to shrink.
Total U.S. output reached 8.89 billion eggs, down two percent from last year. Of that, 7.59 billion were table eggs and 1.30 billion were hatching eggs, including 1.19 billion broiler-type and 118 million egg-type.
The average number of layers in August was 364 million, one percent below a year ago, while production-per-100 layers fell one percent to 2,444 eggs.
As of September 1, the nation’s flock totaled 366 million layers, representing a one-percent decrease year-over-year. The flock included 301 million table egg layers, 59.9 million producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 4.65 million producing egg-type hatching eggs. The daily lay rate decreased to 78.6 eggs per 100 layers, also representing a one percent decline.
On the hatching side, egg-type chicks totaled 57.4 million in August, up five percent from last year, while broiler-type chicks reached 879 million, up slightly.
Iowa, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas remain the top five states in egg production.
Tony’s Farm-Level Takeaway: Smaller flocks and lower lay rates are pressuring table egg supplies, even as hatchery activity edges higher.
Strong corn exports offer support, while soybeans and wheat remain weighed down by ample global supplies, according to the USDA’s latest WASDE report for February.
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