October 27, 2006

US broiler production to slow down for the holiday season

US broiler production looks set to fall for the holiday season as the number of broiler chicken eggs set in incubators in the 19 largest broiler chicken-producing states fell three percent last week, compared to the same period last year, USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported.

The total number placed in the 19 states was 197 million during the week ending October 21, 2006. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 percent.

The decline may have been due to an expected drop in consumer demand for chicken during the holiday season in November and December as the chicks are expected for slaughter near Christmas.

Broiler growers in the 19-states placed orders for 165 million broiler chicks on farms for meat production during the week ending October 21, 2006. Placements were down one percent from the same week one year ago, NASS said.