WASHINGTON – Egg production in the United States totaled 7.93 billion during December 2011, up slightly from2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture. Production included 6.89 billion table eggs, and 1.04 billion hatching eggs, of which 973 million were broiler-type and 68 million were egg-type.

During December, the total number of layers averaged 338 million, down 1 percent from 2010. December egg production per 100 layers was 2,344 eggs, up 1 percent from December 2010.

On Jan. 1, all layers in the US totaled 338 million, down 2 percent from last year. The 338 million layers consisted of 284 million layers producing table or market-type eggs, 50.9 million layers producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.78 million layers producing egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on Jan. 1, 2012, averaged 75.8 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from Jan. 1, 2011.

Egg-type chicks hatched during December totaled 38.9 million, up 3 percent from December 2010. Eggs in incubators totaled 38.8 million on Jan. 1, 2012, up slightly from a year ago. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 277,000 during December 2011, up 5 percent from December 2010.

During December, broiler-type chicks hatched totaled 760 million, down 3 percent from December 2010. Eggs in incubators totaled 634 million on Jan. 1, 2012, down slightly from a year earlier.

Leading breeders placed 6.44 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during December 2011, down 5 percent from December 2010.