Egg Industry Statistics and Reports

AEB Promotes Nutrient and Economic Value of Eggs

Feb 15, 2012

The American Egg Board has released comparisons of the average cost and protein content of eggs in comparison to meat and dairy foods. Eggs provide the largest quantity of protein per dollar (38 grams/$1 or 2.3 cents/gram) compared to a serving of beef round roast (20g/$1 or 4.5 cents/gram). Among the protein-rich foods, eggs supplied the least calories among the comparisons.

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Monthly Egg Production Statistics for December 2011-January 2012

Feb 9, 2012

EGG-CITE tabulates monthly statistics compiled from data released by the USDA and the Department of Commerce, as collated by the Egg Industry Center under the direction of Maro Ibarburu in consultation with Don Bell, Emeritus of the University of California, Riverside.

Comments supplementing the production summary tables for the December-January series made available by the EIC on February 8^th are provided for guidance:-

• The anticipated seasonal decline in the January 2012 egg price attained 43%, dropping from 110.0 cents per dozen in December 2011 to 66.7 cents per dozen in January 2012. This impact on margin was coupled with a 7.1% increase in the 6-region feed cost (44.84 cents per dozen in December 2011 compared to 48.0 cents per dozen in January 2012) contributed to a loss of 8.6 cents per dozen or 16.36 cents per hen for the first month of 2012. For the 12 months of 2011 ex-farm contribution was 2.6 cents per dozen or 59.3 cents per hen. It is noted that the fourth quarter yielded a cumulative 148.8 cents per dozen or $1.20 per hen, offsetting losses during six of the previous nine months. 
• Future profitability continues to be a function of ingredient cost with the corn price predominating. The overwhelming factor of significance will be the CBOT price of corn as influenced by demand. The question of the 2011yield has been largely resolved with a USDA value of 146.7 bushels per acre but export demand, diversion to ethanol and hedge fund trading in relation to projected residual stocks will be factors contributing to prolonged high prices. As of February 8^th 2012 corn traded at $6.43 per bushel and soybean meal at $321.70/ton. (See the report on the USDA-WASDE statistics for January 2012 below) 

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USDA WASDE Forecast for February 2012

Feb 9, 2012

The February 9^th 2012 USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) Number 503, was little changed from the January 2012 posting with regard to corn and soybean production. The report demonstrated some differences in price projections and included comments on the impact of dry weather in Argentina and Brazil.

It is hoped that USDA monthly estimates of corn yield for 2012 will be more accurate and with less fluctuation compared to the past harvest season. The USDA continues to project a corn crop of 12,358 million bushels based on a harvest area of 84 million acres (91.9 million planted) and an average yield of 147.2 bushels per acre. Diversion of corn to ethanol, still estimated to be 5,000 bushels represents 37.0% of supply. The proportion diverted again exceeds the 34.1% value of total supply assigned to the category “Feed and Residual Use”

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Ranking the World’s Major Egg Producers

Feb 1, 2012

There is considerable published data on the numbers of commercial-level hens in production in various nations. Data from the FAO issued a few years in arrears for all reporting nations is available in official publications. The International Egg Commission documents hen numbers in member countries with more accuracy and usually reflecting the previous year thanks to the diligence of Prof. Dr. Hans Windhorst.

The question arises as to the ranking of the largest individual egg production companies in the World. Enquiries in December 2011 directed to primary breeders, equipment manufacturers and industry contacts, provided a glimpse into the size and strength of the top contenders. These integrated Companies operate numerous complexes which achieve economies of scale and enjoy market strength through volume and product diversity and differentiation according to the demographics of their domestic and export markets served.

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In-Line Breaking Advances

Jan 24, 2012

Data included in the USDA-AMS Poultry Market News and Analysis reflecting 2011 documents the increasing proportion of whole-egg product derived from in-line complexes in the U.S. during the years as indicated:-

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Egg Exports 2011

Jan 23, 2012

Data released by the USDA-FAS for the period January through November 2011 documents the volume and value of U.S. egg exports.

For the 11-month period, 74.201 million dozen shell eggs were shipped with an aggregate value of $68 million corresponding to a unit value of 91.6 cents per dozen. Of the total 85% was shipped to the traditional top importers comprising Hong Kong, the EU-27, the UAE and Japan.

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FDA Report on Antibiotic Sales

Nov 21, 2011

The FDA has published a report on antibiotic sales for 2010.  The document was finalized on October 31^st 2011 and contains updates and corrections to the previous incorrect version.

In accordance with Section 105 of the Animal Drug User Fee Amendment Act of 2008 and amended Section 512 of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, manufacturers of antibiotics are required to submit annual reports to the FDA documenting the amounts of each ingredient sold, distributed or exported for use in food producing animals.  The summary report does not delineate each class of antibiotic as to species.

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Predicting the 2011 U.S. Corn Yield

Sep 8, 2011

The Pro-Farmer Mid-West Tour was completed during late August and the results were published in a number of print and electronic media including www.agweb.com.

Based on evaluation of individual fields in seven states, experienced evaluators considered the number of kernels, size of ears and other parameters. They estimated that the U.S. crop yield will average 147.9 bushels per acre equivalent to a national harvest of 12.84 billion bushels.

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California Production Costs

May 30, 2011

The Egg Industry Center has published data collected by Don Bell on production costs and margins pertaining to California production for the years 1979 to 2010. 

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