US eggs set up 2% on-year

During the week ending February 23, 2013, US commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly programme set 199 million eggs in incubators, up 2% from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier.

According to USDA's weekly Broiler Hatchery report, average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 84%. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler growers in the programme placed 164 million chicks for meat production during the week ending February 23, up 2% from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from December 30, 2012 through February 23, 2013 for the 19-state total 1.30 billion, up 1% from the same period a year earlier.