POULTRY HIGHLIGHTS 



EGGS 



Massachusetts laying flocks produced 265 million eggs during 1983, 16 percent less than the previous year 

 and the smallest annual egg production since 1929. The average daily rate of lay per 100 birds was a record 

 68.5 eggs, surpassing the previous high rate of 67.4 eggs set in 1981. Poultrymen received a record high 91 

 cents per dozen for eggs in 1983, 5 cents above the previous high 86 cents per dozen in 1981. Gross income 

 from egg production in 1983 was $20.1 million, 9 percent less than the gross in 1982. 



CHICKENS 



The December 1, 1983 inventory of chickens on farms (excluding broilers) totaled 1.4 million birds, 11 

 percent below a year ago and the lowest of record. A break down of the December 1 inventory indicates that 

 a small increase in pullets of laying age was more than offset by the large decrease in hens. In the younger 

 birds, a 3,000 increase in other birds was insignificant compared to the large decline in young pullets. 

 Total value of all chickens on hand December 1, 1983 was $3.4 million, 14 percent less than a year earlier. 

 Poultrymen marketed 5.4 million pounds of poultry during 1983 at 10.5 cents per pound. 



TURKEYS 



Massachusetts farmers raised 160,000 turkeys during 1983, 15,000 more than a year earlier and the most since 

 1974. There were 3.3 million pounds liveweight from the turkeys raised. The price per pound, at 84 cents, 

 was 7 cents higher than received in 1982 and increased the value of production to $2.8 million for 1983. 



POULTRY: INVENTORY BY CLASS AND VALUE, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 1, 1972-1983 



YEAR 



CHICKENS, EXCLUDING BROILERS 



HENS AND PULLETS OF 

 LAYING AGE 



HENS 



PULLETS 



PULLETS NOT OF 

 LAYING AGE 



3 MONTHS 

 AND OLDER 



UNDER 

 3 MONTHS 



OTHER 



TOTAL 



VALUE 



PER 



HEAD 



TOTAL 

 VALUE 



12 



