Broiler Eggs Set In 19 Selected States Down 1 Percent

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 206 million eggs in incubators during the week ending August 2, 2003. 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 Down 2 Percent

Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 167 million chicks for meat production during the week ending August 2, 2003.

Placements were down 2 percent from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 29, 2002 through August 2, 2003 were 5.21 billion, down 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

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Source: USDA NASS - Broiler Hatchery Report - 6th August 2003