The total number of layers during May averaged 338 million, up slightly from last year. May egg production per 100 layers was 2,276 eggs, up 1% from May 2009.
On June 1, all layers in the U.S. totaled 337 million, up 1% from last year. The 337 million layers consisted of 279 million layers producing table or market-type eggs, 55.3 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.94 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs.
On June 1, the rate of lay per day averaged 73.6 eggs per 100 layers, up 1% from June 1, 2009.
Egg-type chicks hatched during May totaled 43.1 million, up 6% from May 2009. Eggs in incubators totaled 39.3 million on June 1, down slightly from a year ago.
Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 230 thousand during May, down 16% from May 2009.
During May, broiler-type chicks hatched totaled 798 million, up 1% from May 2009. Eggs in incubators totaled 655 million on June 1, up 2% from one year earlier.
Leading breeders placed 8.01 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during May, which is up 5% from May 2009.