General Increase in Broiler Hatchery

WASHINGTON - May 15/02 - STAT -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States posted a general increase during the week ending May 11, according to the latest USDA data.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 212 million eggs in incubators. This was up 2% 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 19-State weekly program placed 171 million chicks for meat production. Placements were up 2% from the comparable week in 2001. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2001 through May 11, 2002 were 3.22 billion, down 5% from the same period a year earlier.

                    United States Broiler Hatchery Activity
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                    :                        Week Ending
        State       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    :  Apr 6  : Apr 13  : Apr 20  : Apr 27  :  May 4  : May 11
                    :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002
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                    :                         Thousand
Eggs Set            :*212,490   211,332   210,753   208,320   209,382   212,330
Chicks Placed       :*168,978   169,584   169,149   172,590   172,782   171,116
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