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Weekly US Broiler Hatchery Report

19 January 2012

National Agricultural Statistics Service

US - According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), compared to the same week last year, six per cent fewer broiler-type eggs were set and four per cent fewer chicks were placed.

Broiler-type eggs set down six per cent

Commercial hatcheries in the 19 State weekly programme set 192 million eggs in incubators during the week ending 14 January 2012. This was down 6 per cent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85 per cent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler-type chicks placed down four per cent

Broiler growers in the 19 State weekly programme placed 162 million chicks for meat production during the week ending 14 January 2012. Placements were down 4 per cent from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from 1 January 2012 through 14 January 2012 were 324 million, down 4 per cent from the same period a year earlier.