Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 207 million eggs in incubators during the week ending August 9, 2003. This was up 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 1 Percent

Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 170 million chicks for meat production during the week ending August 9, 2003. Placements were up 1 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from December 29, 2002 through August 9, 2003 were 5.38 billion, down 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

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Source: USDA NASS - Broiler Hatchery Report - 13th August 2003