Weekly Broiler Hatchery Advances

WASHINGTON - May 22/02 - STAT -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States was generally higher than year earlier levels during the week ending May 18.

Data assembled by the USDA revealed commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 214 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 1% from the comparable week in 2001. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2001 through May 18, 2002 were 3.39 billion.

                 United States Broiler Hatchery Activity
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                    :                        Week Ending
        State       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : Apr 13  : Apr 20  : Apr 27  :  May 4  : May 11  : May 18
                    :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002
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                    :                         Thousand
Eggs Set            :*211,198  *210,849  *209,592  *209,616  *212,293   214,110
Chicks Placed       :*169,433  *169,157  *172,586  *172,394  *171,280   171,246
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* Revised