US layers down, egg production up in 2011

U.S. layer numbers during 2011 averaged 338 million, down 1 percent from 2010 numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. The annual average production per layer on hand in 2011 was 271 eggs, up 1 percent from 2010. Iowa had the most layers in 2011, with 53 million, while Ohio and Pennsylvania rounded out the top three states with 27.7 million and 25.1 million birds, respectively. Montana, however, had the highest average eggs per layer, with 317. Egg production during the year ending Nov. 30, 2011 totaled 91.9 billion eggs, up slightly from 2010 numbers. Table egg production, at 79 billion eggs, was up 1 percent from 2010. Hatching egg production, at 12.8 billion eggs, was down 1 percent. For more information and poultry statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.