August 26, 2011

US broiler-type eggs set, chicks placed fall 

US commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly programme has placed 194 million eggs in incubators in the week ended August 20, 7% lower from the eggs set in the same week of 2010, USDA said Wednesday (Aug 24).

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85%.

Broiler growers in the programme placed 162 million chicks for meat production during the same week, down 6% from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from January 2 through August 20 were 5.59 billion, down 1% from the same period a year earlier.