General Improvement in Broiler Hatchery

WASHINGTON -May 29/02 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity showed a general improvement over year earlier levels during the week ending May 25, according to the latest data assembled by the USDA.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 213 million eggs in incubators. This was up 1% 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 25, 2002 were 3.56 billion.

                    United States Broiler Hatchery Summary
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                    :                        Week Ending
        State       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : Apr 20  : Apr 27  :  May 4  : May 11  : May 18  : May 25
                    :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002   :  2002
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                    :                         Thousand
                    :
Eggs Set            : 210,849  *209,680  *209,637  *212,164  *214,156   213,463
Chicks Placed       : 169,157   172,586  *172,494  *171,223  *170,972   171,406
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* Revised