US broiler-type eggs down 6% first week 2012

U.S. commercial hatcheries in the 19-state weekly program set 193 million eggs in incubators during the week ending January 7, down 6% from the eggs set the corresponding week in 2011, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85%. Broiler growers in the program placed 162 million chicks for meat production during the week ending January 7, down 4% from the comparable week in 2011.