SOURCE:  Rita Jane Gabbett,  MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/3/11

USDA reported commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 204 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Jan. 29, 2011, up 1 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier.

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.

USDA reported broiler growers in the 19-state weekly program placed 168 million chicks for meat production during the week ending Jan. 29, up 2 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from Jan. 2 through Jan. 29, 2011 were 672 million, up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

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