Egg Set Pulls Broiler Hatchery High

WASHINGTON - Feb 18/04 - SNS -- Broiler hatchery activity in the United States continued to increase during the week ending February 14, with a significant increase in the number of eggs set, says the USDA.

Commercial hatcheries in the 19-State weekly program set 208 million eggs in incubators during the week ending February 14, 2004. This was up 3% 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 14, 2004. Placements were up slightly from the comparable week a year earlier. Cumulative placements from December 28, 2003 through February 14, 2004 were 1.17 billion, up 1% from the same period a year earlier.

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