July 1, 2011
US commercial hatcheries set fewer eggs
US commercial hatcheries in the 19 state weekly programme set 199 million eggs in incubators during the week ending June 25, declining 6% from the eggs set during the same period last year, USDA reported.
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 19 State weekly programme placed 169 million chicks for meat production during the week ending June 25, down 4% from the comparable week a year earlier.
Cumulative placements from January 2 through June 25, 2011 were 4.27 billion, up slightly from the same period a year earlier.
