Broiler Eggs Set In 19 Selected States Up Slightly

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 214 million eggs in incubators during the week ending July 23, 2005. This was up slightly from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 84 percent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler Chicks Down 1 Percent

Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 172 million chicks for meat production during the week ending July 23, 2005. Placements were down 1 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from January 2, 2005 through July 23, 2005 were 5.11 billion, up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

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Source: USDA NASS - Broiler Hatchery Report - 27th July 2005