Source: MEATINGPLACE, 9/25/13


Lower corn and soybean meal prices and an improving domestic economy will drive continued expansion in broiler production in 2014, USDA forecast.

Chick placements have been on the rise through the first two months of the third quarter and are likely to continue marching higher with a larger breeder flock in place, USDA said. Higher average weights are also expected to continue.

Broiler meat production is forecast at 38.8 billion pounds next year, 2.5 percent above 2013 production, USDA said in its most recent “Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook.”

In the second half of 2013, broiler meat production is expected to rise 3.4 percent from a year ago, to 19.2 billion pounds. The broiler meat production outlook was increased by 25 million pounds for the third quarter and 50 million pounds for the fourth quarter.

In July alone, broiler meat production was up 4.9 percent from a year ago, at 3.3 billion pounds. USDA attributed the increase to both higher average bird weights and the addition of one more slaughter day than in the previous year.

The number of birds slaughtered in July rose 3.6 percent from the previous year to 748 million. The average live weight gained 1 percent, rising to 5.84 pounds.

For the 5-week period ending September 7, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported that an average of 165 million broiler chicks were placed weekly, an increase of 2.4 percent over the same period a year ago.

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