Broiler-Type Eggs Set Up 3 Percent
Commercial hatcheries in the 19 State weekly program set 198 million eggs in incubators during the week ending February 2, 2013. This was up 3 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 84 percent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.
Broiler-Type Chicks Placed Up 1 Percent
Broiler growers in the 19 State weekly program placed 162 million chicks for meat production during the week ending February 2, 2013. Placements were up 1 percent from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2012 through February 2, 2013 were 814 million, up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.
Source: USDA