Broiler-Type Eggs Set In 19 Selected States Down 1 Percent

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 218 million eggs in incubators during the week ending April 5, 2008. This was down 1 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler Chicks Placed Up 2 Percent

Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 180 million chicks for meat production during the week ending April 5, 2008. Placements were up 2 percent from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2007 through April 5, 2008 were 2.50 billion, up 3 percent from the same period a year earlier.

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