Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 207 million eggs in incubators during the week ending June 21, 2003. This was down slightly 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 Down Slightly

Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 172 million chicks for meat production during the week ending June 21, 2003.

Placements were down slightly from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from December 29, 2002 through June 21, 2003 were 4.20 billion, down 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Source: USDA NASS - Broiler Hatchery Report - 25th June 2003