The total number of layers during July averaged 344 million, up 2 percent compared to a year ago. July egg production per 100 layers slightly increased to 2,313 eggs.
NASS reported a 3 percent increase in all layers on Aug. 1, 2013. This represents a total of 345 million layers which consisted of 289 million layers producing table or market type eggs, 52.6 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 3.15 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on Aug. 1, 2013 declined slightly to average 74.5 eggs per 100 layers.
Egg-type chicks hatched during July advanced 8 percent to 38.5 million. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.4 million on Aug. 1, down 8 percent from a year ago, according to NASS.
In July, leading breeders placed 272,000 egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks, a slight increase from June 2012.
Broiler-type chicks hatched during July gained 2 percent to total 782 million, while eggs in incubators climbed 2 percent to 626 million on Aug. 1, NASS reported.
Leading breeders placed 6.57 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during July 2013, up 8 percent from a year ago.