Mixed U.S. Broiler Hatchery Situation

WASHINGTON - Apr 28/10 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States Broiler managed a mixed performance during the seven days closing April 24, 2010, according to this week's USDA report on the sector.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 206.0 million eggs in incubators during the week. This was up 2.0% 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 Slightly Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 169 million chicks for meat production during the week ending April 24, 2010. Placements were down slightly from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from January 3, 2010 through April 24, 2010 were 2.69 billion, down slightly 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, 5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria VA 22312. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Week Ending State :----------------------------------------------------------- : Mar 20 : Mar 27 : Apr 3 : Apr 10 : Apr 17 : Apr 24 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 30,274 30,357 29,344 30,132 30,182 30,292 AR : 23,825 23,828 *23,869 24,268 23,825 23,301 DE : 3,615 3,709 3,771 3,783 *3,783 3,782 FL : 1,316 1,343 1,350 1,342 1,382 1,389 GA : 31,701 31,500 31,094 31,925 31,808 31,695 KY : 8,177 *7,582 *7,927 8,301 7,566 7,747 LA : 3,500 3,470 3,379 3,500 3,500 3,470 MD : 9,141 9,089 8,965 9,058 8,906 8,184 MS : 19,503 19,405 19,204 18,939 19,160 19,023 NC : 18,480 18,713 *18,616 18,464 18,748 19,497 OK : 6,986 6,907 *6,657 7,202 *7,133 6,915 PA : 3,743 3,791 3,691 *3,738 *3,784 3,802 SC : 6,048 5,990 5,735 5,770 5,507 5,667 TX : 15,545 14,762 15,568 15,548 15,654 15,816 VA : 6,412 6,178 6,466 6,527 6,531 6,792 CA, MO, TN, & WV : 19,115 18,729 18,925 *19,549 *19,366 19,465 : 207,381 205,353 204,561 208,046 206,835 206,837 : 201,053 200,465 204,257 203,712 203,819 202,068 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 103 102 100 102 101 102 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised Broiler Chicks Placed, 19 Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Week Ending State :----------------------------------------------------------- : Mar 20 : Mar 27 : Apr 3 : Apr 10 : Apr 17 : Apr 24 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 20,750 20,850 20,504 20,790 21,438 20,455 AR : 21,677 21,428 21,932 21,793 20,910 21,729 DE : 4,994 4,391 4,672 4,654 *5,404 4,866 FL : 1,029 1,076 972 944 1,102 1,140 GA : 26,433 27,287 26,235 26,788 *26,360 25,735 KY : 5,963 6,236 6,837 6,792 *6,001 6,175 LA : 3,043 3,059 3,023 3,112 3,134 3,187 MD : 6,069 6,223 6,099 7,133 *5,735 6,336 MS : 16,891 16,766 16,463 17,012 16,879 16,766 NC : *15,609 15,853 15,705 *15,088 15,600 15,578 OK : 4,286 4,347 3,290 5,179 4,399 3,507 PA : 2,993 2,943 3,036 *3,020 *3,029 2,899 SC : 4,810 4,114 4,775 5,416 5,344 5,781 TX : 13,223 12,840 12,984 13,021 12,462 12,825 VA : 5,052 5,328 5,316 4,840 *4,658 5,035 CA, MO, TN, & WV : 17,108 16,422 16,683 *16,952 *16,772 17,468 : 169,930 169,163 168,526 172,534 169,227 169,482 : 171,987 167,562 168,792 167,137 166,888 169,887 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 99 101 100 103 101 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised END OF REPORT!

Broiler growers placed 169.0 million chicks for meat production. Placements were unchanged from the comparable week a year earlier.