Pou 2-5 (4-08) Egg Products National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 30, 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 Down 3 Percent from Last Year Shell eggs broken totaled 163 million dozen during March 2008, down 3 percent from March a year ago, but 7 percent above the 152 million broken last month. March 2008 contained 21 weekdays and 5 Saturdays. March 2007 contained 22 weekdays and 5 Saturdays. During calendar year 2008 through March, shell eggs broken totaled 486 million dozen, up 2 percent from the comparable period in 2007. To date, cumulative total edible product from eggs broken in 2008 was 635 million pounds, up 2 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, March 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : :Percent of : Mar : Feb : Mar :----------- Inspected Item : 2007 :2008 1/ : 2008 : Mar : Feb : : : :2007 :2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :------ 1,000 Dozen ------ Percent : Shell Eggs Broken :167,844 151,744 162,703 97 107 :------ 1,000 Pounds ----- Percent : Edible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : Whole :143,059 127,397 137,836 96 108 White : 49,652 46,180 48,014 97 104 Yolk : 27,163 24,554 26,173 96 107 : Total :219,874 198,131 212,023 96 107 : Inedible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : 19,688 17,822 19,165 97 108 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Revised. Shell Eggs Broken: Federally Inspected, Cumulative, United States, January-March, 2007-08 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Period : 2008 Inspected Item :-----------------------------: as % of :Jan-Mar, 2007 :Jan-Mar, 2008 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Dozen ---- Percent : Shell Eggs Broken : 477,692 486,397 102 : ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- Percent : Edible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : Whole : 399,462 410,805 103 White : 146,267 145,660 100 Yolk : 79,410 78,060 98 : Total : 625,139 634,525 102 : Inedible Product from Shell Eggs Broken : 56,227 57,155 102 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.