Eggs Set Boosts U.S. Broiler Hatchery

WASHINGTON - May 12/10 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States pulled ahead of year earlier levels over the week closing May 8, 2010 despite a week over week decrease in the number of chicks placed, judging from the latest USDA data.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 207.0 million eggs in incubators during the week. This was up 1.5% 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 Up Slightly Broiler growers in the 19-State weekly program placed 171 million chicks for meat production during the week ending May 8, 2010. Placements were up slightly from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from January 3, 2010 through May 8, 2010 were 3.03 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 :----------------------------------------------------------- : Apr 3 : Apr 10 : Apr 17 : Apr 24 : May 1 : May 8 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 29,380 30,384 *30,199 30,292 30,944 30,489 AR : 23,869 24,424 *23,406 23,449 *24,096 23,462 DE : 3,771 3,783 3,783 3,787 3,787 3,771 FL : 1,350 1,342 1,382 1,389 1,380 1,391 GA : 31,094 32,011 31,808 31,695 31,665 31,765 KY : 7,927 8,435 *7,697 7,747 7,846 8,178 LA : 3,379 3,500 3,500 3,470 *3,500 3,319 MD : 8,965 9,058 8,906 8,184 7,059 8,050 MS : 19,204 19,287 19,160 19,023 18,816 19,109 NC : 18,616 18,620 *18,704 19,497 19,708 19,716 OK : 6,657 6,986 *6,924 6,705 6,747 6,873 PA : 3,691 3,738 3,784 3,802 *3,735 3,749 SC : 5,735 5,770 5,507 5,667 5,839 5,789 TX : 15,568 15,548 15,654 15,816 15,900 15,649 VA : 6,466 6,527 6,531 6,792 6,616 6,531 CA, MO, TN, & WV : 18,925 19,549 *19,521 *19,765 *18,915 19,654 : 204,597 208,962 206,466 207,080 206,553 207,495 : 204,257 203,712 203,819 202,068 201,582 204,581 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 100 103 101 102 102 101 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised Broiler Chicks Placed, 19 Selected States -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Week Ending State :----------------------------------------------------------- : Apr 3 : Apr 10 : Apr 17 : Apr 24 : May 1 : May 8 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Thousand : AL : 20,504 20,790 21,377 20,340 *21,332 21,383 AR : 21,932 21,793 20,910 21,719 *22,183 20,928 DE : 4,672 4,654 5,404 4,850 5,150 4,657 FL : 972 944 1,102 1,140 955 1,008 GA : 26,235 26,788 26,360 25,735 *27,144 26,866 KY : 6,837 6,792 6,001 6,175 *6,824 6,345 LA : 3,023 3,112 3,134 3,187 *3,153 3,142 MD : 6,099 7,133 5,735 6,353 6,588 6,130 MS : 16,463 17,012 16,879 16,766 16,770 16,814 NC : 15,705 15,088 15,600 15,578 15,383 15,362 OK : 3,290 5,179 4,399 3,507 *3,609 4,900 PA : 3,036 3,020 3,029 2,907 *2,945 2,988 SC : 4,775 5,416 5,344 5,781 4,485 4,631 TX : 12,984 13,021 12,462 12,825 12,931 12,892 VA : 5,316 4,840 4,658 5,035 5,037 5,905 CA, MO, TN, & WV : 16,683 16,952 *16,785 *17,480 *17,919 16,777 : 168,526 172,534 169,179 169,378 172,408 170,728 : 168,792 167,137 166,888 169,887 169,262 169,977 : Pct. of Prev. Year : 100 103 101 100 102 100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised END OF REPORT!

Broiler growers placed 170.0 million chicks for meat production. Placements were up 0.6% from the comparable week a year earlier.