May 11, 2012

US poultry on continual decline

US commercial hatcheries, in the 19 state weekly programmes, set 199 million eggs in incubators during the week concluding May 5, down by 4% from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier.

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 program placed 166 million chicks for meat production during the week ending May 5. Placements were down 4% from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from January 1 through May 5 were 2.94 billion, down 4% from the same period a year earlier.