Solid Drop in Broiler Hatchery

WASHINGTON - Feb 19/03 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States recorded a solid drop during the week ending February 15.

The USDA reports commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 202 million eggs in incubators during the week ending February 15, 2003. This was down 4% 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 166 million chicks for meat production during the week ending February 15, 2003. Placements were down 1% from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 29, 2002 through February 15, 2003 were 1.15 billion, down 1% from the same period a year earlier.

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