Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 1/12/12

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 193 million eggs in incubators during the week ending Jan. 7, 2012, down 6 percent from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier, according to USDA.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85 percent. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler growers in the program placed 162 million chicks for meat production during the week ending Jan. 7, 2012, down 4 percent from the comparable week a year earlier.

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