Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 6/23/11

Commercial hatcheries in the 19 State weekly program set 201 million eggs in incubators during the week ending June 18, down 4 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier, according to USDA’s weekly Broiler Hatchery report.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 84 percent.

Broiler growers in the 19 State weekly program placed 170 million chicks for meat production during the week ending June 18, down 3 percent from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from January 2 through June 18 were 4.10 billion, up 1 percent from the same period a year earlier.

To view the full report click here.