Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/30/10

USDA reported commercial hatcheries in the 19 state weekly program set 204 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Dec. 25, up slightly 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 growers in the 19 state weekly program placed 168 million chicks for meat production during the week ending Dec. 25, up 1 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from Jan. 3 through Dec. 25 were 8.63 billion, up 2 percent from the same period a year earlier.

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