Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 7/21/11


In the latest indication that poultry producers are responding to high feed costs and tepid demand, USDA reported commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 197 million eggs in incubators during the week ended July 16, down 6 percent from the corresponding week a year earlier.

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

Broiler growers in the program placed 165 million chicks for meat production during the week, down 5 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

Cumulative placements from Jan. 2 through July 16 were 4.77 billion, down slightly from the same period a year earlier.

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