February 24, 2014

US broiler production down slightly

During the week ending February 15, US broiler producers set 209 million eggs in incubators, an increase of 1% compared to a year ago, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83%. Broiler chicks placed for meat production during the week declined slightly compared to a year ago. Producers placed 163 million chicks for meat production in the week ending February 15. Cumulative placements from December 29 through February 15 totalled 1.19 billion chicks, up 1% from the comparable year ago period.