USDA reports decline in broiler eggs

Broiler growers in a 19-state program placed 172 million chicks for meat production in the first week of December, which is down 1 % from the comparable week in 2005.

Cumulative placements between January 1, 2006, and December 9, 2006, were 8.44 billion broilers – down 1 % from the same period last year.

US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported that chicken companies in the 19 largest broiler-producing states set 3 % fewer eggs in incubators during early December.

The decrease in the number of eggs set is part of an effort by chicken companies to reduce the surplus of chicken meat on the market and to drive up prices. The number of broiler eggs set in commercial incubators in the US has decreased every week since late October. Several broiler producers said they plan to reduce chicken production at least until the beginning of 2007.

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