Pou 2-5 (3-08) Egg Products National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released March 31, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Egg Products" call Fleming Gibson at (202) 690-3237, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Shell Eggs Broken Up 1 Percent from Last Year Shell eggs broken totaled 152 million dozen during February 2008, up 1 percent from February a year ago, but 12 percent below the 172 million dozen broken last month. February 2008 contained 21 weekdays and 4 Saturdays. February 2007 contained 20 weekdays and 4 Saturdays. During calendar year 2008 through February, shell eggs broken totaled 323 million dozen, up 4 percent from the comparable period in 2007. To date, cumulative total edible product from eggs broken in 2008 was 422 million pounds, up 4 percent from 2007. Data presented in this report were compiled from Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection reports. The best available data at the time of publication were used. Shell Eggs Broken: Federally Inspected, United States, February 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : :Percent of : Feb : Jan : Feb :----------- Inspected Item : 2007 :2008 1/ : 2008 : Feb : Jan : : : :2007 :2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :------ 1,000 Dozen ------ Percent : Shell Eggs Broken :150,206 171,950 151,502 101 88 :------ 1,000 Pounds ----- Percent : Edible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : Whole :123,018 145,572 127,397 104 88 White : 48,720 51,466 46,041 95 89 Yolk : 25,851 27,333 24,648 95 90 : Total :197,589 224,371 198,086 100 88 : Inedible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : 17,236 20,168 18,153 105 90 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Shell Eggs Broken: Federally Inspected, Cumulative, United States, January-February, 2007-08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Period : 2008 Inspected Item :-----------------------------: as % of :Jan-Feb, 2007 :Jan-Feb, 2008 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Dozen ---- Percent : Shell Eggs Broken : 309,848 323,452 104 : ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- Percent : Edible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : Whole : 256,403 272,969 106 White : 96,615 97,507 101 Yolk : 52,247 51,981 99 : Total : 405,265 422,457 104 : Inedible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : 36,539 38,321 105 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reliability of Egg Product Estimates Data Sources: Data for the "Egg Products" report are obtained from Egg Products Volume Reports (FSIS Form 5200-11) completed by inspectors of FSIS, USDA. FSIS is responsible for administering a mandatory inspection program for egg products under the authority of the Egg Products Inspection Act of 1970. The act and its associated regulations require that all commercial egg breaking and processing plants operate under continuous USDA supervision. Reports are currently received from approximately 60 plants in the United States. Plant management provides monthly volume data to the resident USDA inspector at the applicable plant. Revision Policy: Revisions are generally the result of late reports received by FSIS from plants. Revisions for the previous month and year-to-date totals are published in each monthly release. Procedures and Reliability: FSIS reviews plant data for accuracy and completeness and provides NASS a data file. NASS reviews the data for unusual values. The egg products estimates are based on a census of all commercial egg breaking and processing plants, therefore, there are no statistical estimation and sampling errors. Subscription Information To subscribe to NASS reports or to order single copies, call toll free, 1-800-999-6779. You may write: ERS/NASS, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161.