October 11, 2007

US chick placements up for past week

Broiler hatchery activity in the US are rising above year-ago levels in the week ending October 6, 2007.

The increase arose due to an improvement in the number of eggs set, a USDA report said.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly programme set 213.0 million eggs in incubators during the week, up 3.9 percent from the eggs set the same week last year.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent.

Broiler growers placed 169.0 million chicks for meat production. Placements were up 3.0 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.