U.S. commercial hatcheries in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 19-state weekly program set 196 million eggs in incubators during the week ending June 30, down slightly from the eggs set the corresponding week in 2011, according to the latest report.
Georgia set the most eggs, at 31.7 million. Alabama and Arkansas rounded out the top three, setting 27.9 million eggs and 20.8 million eggs, respectively. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85 percent.
Broiler growers in the program placed 166 million chicks for meat production during the week ending June 30, down 2 percent from the comparable week in 2011. Georgia, Alabama and Arkansas also placed the most chicks, at 27.2 million, 20.8 million and 19.9 million chicks, respectively. Cumulative placements from January 1 through June 30 were 4.27 billion, down 3 percent from 2011 numbers, according to the USDA.
For more poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.
