Slight Increase in Broiler Hatchery

WASHINGTON - May 1/02 - STAT -- Broiler hatchery activity posted a modest increase during the week ending April 27, judging from the latest USDA data.

Commercial hatcheries in the 15-State weekly program set 186 million eggs in incubators. This was up slightly from the eggs set the corresponding week a year earlier.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 83%. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier.

Broiler growers in the 15-State weekly program placed 153 million chicks for meat production. Placements were up 1% from the comparable week in 2001. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2001 through April 27, 2002 were 2.55 billion, up 2% from the same period a year earlier.

Commercial hatcheries for the 19 States set a total of 208 million eggs in incubators. Broiler growers in the 19 States placed 173 million chicks for meat production. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2001 through April 27, 2002 in the 19 States totaled 2.88 billion.

                  United States Broiler Hatchery Activity Summary
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                    :                        Week Ending
        State       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : Mar 23  : Mar 30  :  Apr 6  : Apr 13  : Apr 20  : Apr 27
                    :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002
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                    :                         Thousand
Eggs Set            :*208,762  *207,779  *212,371  *210,602  *210,828   208,336
Chicks Placed       :*171,346  *171,323  *168,971  *169,515  *169,221   172,526
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*   Revised.