May 16, 2008

Broiler-type eggs set in incubators down 3 percent

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 214 million eggs in incubators during the week ending May 10, 2008, down 3 percent from the eggs set the same period last year, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 84 percent.

Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 177 million chicks for meat production during the week ending May 10, 2008.

Placements were down 2 percent from the same period in 2007.

Cumulative placements from December 30, 2007 through May 10, 2008 were 3.39 billion, up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.