Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/10/11

USDA reported Wednesday that commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 205 million eggs in incubators during the week ended Feb. 5, up slightly from the same week last year.

Average hatchability during the week was 83 percent, the agency said.

Meanwhile, broiler growers placed 168 million chicks for meat production during the same week, up 3 percent from the comparable week last year.

Cumulative placements from Jan. 2 through Feb. 5 were 840 million, up 1 percent from the same period last year.

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