March 18, 2004

US Broiler Chick Placements Up 2%

According to the USDA, broiler producers in the United States placed 170 million chickens for meat production during the week ending March 13, 2004. Placements were up 2 percent from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 28, 2003 through March 13, 2004 were 1.85 billion, up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program also set 210 million eggs in incubators during the week ending March 13, 2004. This was up 2 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.