By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Editor
If you plan to make an omelet, cake or deviled eggs, you’re in luck. A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals there are more eggs in Texas this month.
An estimated 472 million eggs were laid in Texas in July, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
That’s five percent more eggs than were produced in Texas this time last year. Egg production this month is down two percent over May.
There are more chickens laying those eggs.
The report indicates there were 21.3 million layers in June, which is four percent higher than last year. It is slightly lower than the May report.
Egg production per 100 layers in Texas averaged 2,211 eggs this month. That’s up 15 eggs from July 2016. It’s down 41 eggs from May.
United States egg production totaled 8.58 billion eggs during June. That’s three percent more than this time last year. The number includes 7.47 billion table eggs, 1.03 billion broiler-type hatching eggs and 73.0 million egg-type hatching eggs.
On average, the number of layers nationally is 370 million. That’s up one percent over 2016 reports.
Egg production nationally per 100 layers was 2,316 eggs, which is also up one percent.
NASS reports there were 49 million egg-type chicks hatched across the nation in June. That’s 15 percent lower than last year.
The hatch of broiler-type chicks nationally was two percent higher compared to last year at 802 million.
Leading U.S. breeders placed 8.59 broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks in June, which is up one percent over June 2016.
The results from the July 2017 Chicken and Egg Survey are compiled using information from surveys given to contractors and independent producers who have at least 30,000 laying hens for table egg and/or hatchery supply.
The full report can be seen here.
The next survey will be released by USDA NASS Aug. 22.