U.S. Broiler Hatchery Down on Year

WASHINGTON - May 28/08 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States Broiler was down from last year across the week ending May 24, 2008, but managed a mixed performance on the week, judging from the current USDA report.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 216.0 million eggs in incubators during the week. This was down 1.4% 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 1 Percent Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 177 million chicks for meat production during the week ending May 24, 2008. Placements were down 1% from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 30, 2007 through May 24, 2008 were 3.74 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 19 : Apr 26 : May 3 : May 10 : May 17 : May 24 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 31,966 32,212 31,637 31,858 32,089 31,900 AR : 26,532 27,071 27,317 26,611 27,150 27,244 DE : 3,942 3,721 3,721 3,718 *3,728 3,717 FL : 1,327 1,331 1,346 1,336 1,331 1,336 GA : 34,651 33,997 34,630 34,053 34,854 34,500 KY : *7,922 7,255 *8,089 8,124 8,125 8,110 LA : 3,712 3,712 3,712 3,712 3,650 3,682 MD : 8,995 8,223 8,812 8,840 *8,796 8,771 MS : 18,877 18,999 18,266 18,893 19,060 18,948 NC : 19,533 19,475 *19,314 19,631 19,711 19,815 OK : 6,578 6,353 6,655 6,782 6,859 6,761 PA : 4,400 4,193 *4,231 *4,442 *4,345 4,334 SC : 5,554 5,420 5,371 5,491 5,718 5,556 TX : 15,076 15,346 14,656 14,846 15,477 15,495 VA : 5,791 6,211 *6,444 5,939 *6,429 6,257 CA, MO, TN, & WV : 19,966 19,700 19,641 19,640 20,205 20,027 : 214,822 213,219 213,842 213,916 217,527 216,453 : 220,515 218,515 218,353 219,938 219,928 219,527 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 97 98 98 97 99 99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised Broiler Chicks Placed, 19 Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Week Ending State :----------------------------------------------------------- : Apr 19 : Apr 26 : May 3 : May 10 : May 17 : May 24 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 21,674 20,738 21,475 21,111 21,200 21,743 AR : 22,047 23,316 23,873 22,589 *22,853 24,833 DE : 4,867 4,584 4,851 5,746 *4,321 4,949 FL : 1,191 1,255 1,145 1,271 1,138 1,136 GA : 28,784 29,038 27,781 28,571 28,094 29,100 KY : 6,467 6,793 6,730 *6,246 5,434 6,197 LA : 3,607 3,344 3,784 3,147 3,634 3,474 MD : 6,590 7,121 6,258 6,021 *5,712 6,008 MS : 17,291 17,359 17,060 17,145 17,383 16,556 NC : 15,649 16,128 16,510 16,014 16,120 16,089 OK : 4,964 5,213 4,447 5,430 *5,136 3,882 PA : 3,277 3,254 *3,234 *3,254 *3,298 3,250 SC : 4,418 4,434 5,151 4,812 4,997 4,618 TX : 13,108 12,730 13,324 12,709 12,859 12,535 VA : 5,021 4,767 *4,948 4,077 *5,113 4,976 CA, MO, TN, & WV : 18,201 18,143 17,050 18,442 18,014 17,229 : 177,156 178,217 177,621 176,585 175,306 176,575 : 177,686 180,188 180,084 180,594 178,545 179,069 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 100 99 99 98 98 99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised END OF REPORT!

Broiler growers placed 176.0 million chicks for meat production. Placements were down 1.7% from the comparable week a year earlier.

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