Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 1/13/11

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 204 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Jan. 8, up 1 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier, according to USDA.
Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83 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 169 million chicks for meat production during the week ending Jan. 8, also up 1 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

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