December 31, 2012

US broiler-type eggs set up slightly

Compared to the same week of 2011, more broiler-type eggs were set and a 3% increase of chicks were placed, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

Commercial hatcheries in the 19 State weekly programme set 196 million eggs in incubators during the week ending December 22, 2012. This was up slightly from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85%. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler growers in the 19 State weekly programme placed 167 million chicks for meat production during the week ending December 22, 2012. Placements were up 3% from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from January 1, 2012 through December 22, 2012 were 8.25 billion, down 2% from the same period a year earlier.