Solid Decline in Turkey Hatchery

WASHINGTON - Jan 14/04 - SNS -- Turkey hatchery activity posted a solid decline during December, with January starting with 8% fewer eggs in incubators and 2% fewer poults placed.

In releasing its latest data, the USDA said turkey eggs in incubators on January 1, 2004, in the United States totaled 28.4 million, down 8% from January 1 a year ago. Eggs in incubators were 1% below the December 2003 total of 28.6 million.

Regional changes from the previous year were: East North Central, down 7% at 4,543,000 eggs; West North Central, down 8% at 10,4521,000; North and South Atlantic, down 7% at 8,740,000; South Central, down 8% at 2,352,000; and West, down 12% at 2,238,000 eggs in incubators.

The 23.4 million poults placed during December 2003 in the United States were down 2% from the number placed during the same month a year ago. Placements were up 6% from the November 2003 total of 22.2 million.

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