Turkey Hatchery Numbers Mixed

WASHINGTON - May 14/02 - STAT -- Turkey hatcheries posted a mixed performance during April, with the month ending with fewer eggs in incubators but more poults placed, according to the latest monthly report from the USDA.

Turkey eggs in incubators on May 1, 2002, in the United States totaled 32.2 million, down 1 percent from May 1 a year ago. Eggs in incubators were 2 percent below the April 1 total of 32.7 million.

Regional changes from the previous year were: East North Central, up 5% at 5,248,000 eggs; West North Central, up 5% at 12,138,000; North and South Atlantic, down 9% to 8,975,000; South Central, down 2% at 3,053,000; and West, down 10% at just 2,797,000 eggs in incubators.

The 26.0 million poults placed during April 2002 in the United States were up 1 percent from the number placed during the same month a year ago. Placements were also up 1 percent from the March 2002 total of 25.7 million.

Regional changes from the previous year were: East North Central, up 5% at 3,907,000 poults; West North Central, up 9% at 9,525,000; North and South Atlantic, down 3% at 7,833,000; South Central, down 8% to 2,448,000; and West, down 14% at just 2,297,000 poults placed.

                  Eggs in Incubators:  First of Month by Region
                  and United States, May 2002 with Comparisons
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :            :            :            :Percent of:Percent of
     Geographic    :   May 1    :   Apr 1    :   May 1    : Previous : Previous
      Division     :    2001    :    2002    :    2002    :   Year   :  Month
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :   ------------- 1,000 ------------       --- Percent --
                   :
E N Central        :    4,998        4,834        5,248       105        109
W N Central        :   11,608       12,232       12,138       105         99
N & S Atlantic     :    9,826       *9,641        8,975        91         93
S Central          :    3,119        3,037        3,053        98        101
West               :    3,121       *2,989        2,797        90         94
                   :
US                 :   32,672      *32,733       32,211        99         98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Revised.
          Poults Placements:  Entire Month by Region and United States,
                         April 2002 with Comparisons 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :            :            :            :Percent of:Percent of
     Geographic    :    Apr     :    Mar     :    Apr     : Previous : Previous
      Division     :    2001    :    2002    :    2002    :   Year   :  Month
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :   ------------- 1,000 ------------       --- Percent --
                   :
E N Central        :    3,736        3,654        3,907       105        107
W N Central        :    8,759        9,192        9,525       109        104
N & S Atlantic     :    8,041       *8,143        7,833        97         96
S Central          :    2,665        2,312        2,448        92        106
West               :    2,657       *2,445        2,297        86         94
                   :
US                 :   25,858      *25,746       26,010       101        101
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.
1/  Regional placements refer to poults placed from hatcheries located in
    that region, and not the actual location of the birds after placement.