Mixed U.S. Broiler Hatchery Situation

WASHINGTON - May 14/08 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States Broiler managed a mixed performance during the seven days finishing May 10, 2008, according to today's USDA report on the sector.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 213.0 million eggs in incubators during the week. This was down 2.7% from the eggs set the same week last year.

Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 84%. Average hatchability is calculated by dividing chicks hatched during the week by eggs set three weeks earlier. Broiler Chicks Placed Down 2 Percent Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 177 million chicks for meat production during the week ending May 10, 2008. Placements were down 2% from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2007 through May 10, 2008 were 3.39 billion, up 2% from the same period a year earlier. ******** Subscription Information To subscribe to NASS reports or to order single copies, call toll free, 1- 800-999-6779. You may write: ERS/NASS, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Week Ending State :----------------------------------------------------------- : Apr 5 : Apr 12 : Apr 19 : Apr 26 : May 3 : May 10 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 31,799 31,687 *31,966 32,248 31,637 31,858 AR : 26,966 27,171 *26,532 27,071 27,317 26,670 DE : 4,090 4,027 3,942 3,721 3,721 3,718 FL : 1,413 1,413 1,327 1,306 1,346 1,336 GA : 34,911 34,137 34,651 33,997 34,630 33,949 KY : 8,086 7,899 *7,925 7,391 8,034 8,124 LA : 3,937 3,712 3,712 3,712 3,712 3,712 MD : 9,106 8,779 8,995 8,223 8,812 8,840 MS : 18,926 18,879 18,877 18,999 18,266 18,893 NC : 19,609 19,617 *19,533 19,604 *19,355 19,679 OK : 6,368 6,580 6,682 6,252 6,655 6,822 PA : *4,354 *4,318 *4,400 *4,193 *4,188 4,272 SC : 5,391 5,611 *5,554 5,420 5,371 5,491 TX : 15,697 15,588 15,076 15,346 14,656 14,846 VA : 6,269 6,174 *5,791 6,211 6,369 5,939 CA, MO, TN, & WV : *20,160 *20,333 *19,966 *19,477 *19,605 19,551 : 217,082 215,925 214,929 213,171 213,674 213,700 : 218,877 219,385 220,515 218,515 218,353 219,938 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 99 98 97 98 98 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised Broiler Chicks Placed, 19 Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Week Ending State :----------------------------------------------------------- : Apr 5 : Apr 12 : Apr 19 : Apr 26 : May 3 : May 10 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 21,853 21,303 21,674 20,738 *21,475 21,111 AR : 23,914 23,233 22,047 23,316 23,873 22,599 DE : 4,902 4,804 4,867 4,584 4,851 5,746 FL : 1,291 1,333 1,191 1,255 1,145 1,271 GA : 28,995 28,232 28,784 29,038 27,781 28,476 KY : 6,229 6,054 6,569 *6,894 *6,730 6,248 LA : 3,715 3,726 3,607 3,344 3,784 3,147 MD : 6,917 6,095 6,590 7,121 6,258 6,021 MS : 17,340 17,375 17,291 17,359 17,060 17,145 NC : 16,072 15,997 15,649 16,128 *16,510 16,008 OK : 5,173 5,632 4,964 5,213 4,447 5,430 PA : *3,343 *3,346 *3,271 *3,212 *3,244 3,283 SC : 5,159 4,776 4,418 4,434 5,151 4,812 TX : 13,121 13,022 13,108 12,730 13,324 12,709 VA : 5,069 5,720 5,021 4,767 4,860 4,077 CA, MO, TN, & WV : *17,914 *17,060 *18,201 *18,143 *17,051 18,447 : 181,007 177,708 177,252 178,276 177,544 176,530 : 177,141 177,312 177,686 180,188 180,084 180,594 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 102 100 100 99 99 98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised END OF REPORT!

Broiler growers placed 176.0 million chicks for meat production. Placements were down 2.2% from the comparable week a year earlier.

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