US turkey production holds steady in third quarter 2011

U.S. turkey meat production in the third quarter of 2011 was 1.4 billion pounds, up less than 1% from 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As with broiler production, third-quarter 2011 turkey production saw a reduction in the number of birds being slaughtered and an increase in their average weight. In the case of turkeys, the number of birds slaughtered in the third quarter was 61.9 million, down 1% from 2010 numbers. Offsetting this was a 2% increase in average live weights to 28.9 pounds.
Turkey meat production in the fourth quarter of 2011 is forecast at 1.5 billion pounds, which would again be a small increase from 2010. Growth in turkey production in the second half of 2011 is expected to be different from the first half, which showed strong increases in turkey meat production.
Turkey production in 2012 is forecast at 5.85 billion pounds, which would be an increase of just under 1% from 2011. Even though turkey prices have remained strong through all of 2011, turkey producers will be faced with the impact of high grain prices and a relatively sluggish domestic economy, according to the USDA.
For more poultry statistics and information, see wattagnet.com/marketdata.html. 

US shell eggs broken down 11% from 2010

Shell eggs broken were down in September but up in the first nine months compared to respective 2010 totals.

U.S. shell eggs broken totaled 176 million dozen during September 2011, down 11% from September 2010 and 3% below the 182 million broken in August, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
During the first nine months of 2011, shell eggs broken totaled 1.567 billion dozen, up 1% from the comparable period in 2010. Through September, cumulative total edible product from eggs broken in 2011 was 2.028 billion pounds, up slightly from 2010 numbers. Of that number, 1.24 billion pounds were whole eggs, 525 million pounds were egg whites and 268.3 million pounds were egg yolks.
For more information on U.S. egg production and prices, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html. 

US broiler eggs, chicks down first week in October

Commercial hatcheries in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 19-State weekly program set 186 million eggs in incubators during the week ending October 8, 2011, according to the latest USDA report.
This was down 7% from the eggs set the corresponding week in 2010. Average hatchability for chicks hatched during the week was 85%. Broiler growers in the program placed 150 million chicks for meat production during the same week. Placements were down 8% from the comparable week in 2010. Cumulative placements from January 2, 2011 through October 8, 2011 were 6.70 billion, down 2% from the same period in 2010.
For more poultry statistics, please visit www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.

US egg-type chicks hatched up in August

U.S. egg-type chicks hatched during August totaled 41.6 million, up 12% from August 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Eggs in incubators totaled 39.1 million on Sept. 1, up 5% from the same time in 2010. Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 311 thousand during August, up 23% from August 2010.
Broiler-type chicks hatched during August 2011 totaled 761 million, down 5% from August 2010. Eggs in incubators totaled 601 million on Sept. 1, down 6% from the same time in 2010. Leading breeders placed 7.23 million broiler-type pullet chicks for future domestic hatchery supply flocks during August 2011, down 1% from August 2010.
For more poultry statistics, please visit www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.  

US turkeys raised up 2% from 2010

Turkeys raised in the U.S. during 2011 have reached 248 million head, up 2% from the number raised during 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A combination of six states account for nearly two-thirds of the turkeys produced in the U.S. during 2011: Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia and Indiana. The largest turkey producing state is Minnesota, at 46.5 million turkeys, down 1% from 2010. North Carolina remained unchanged from 2010, producing 30 million turkeys. Arkansas also produced 30 million turkeys, 7% higher than 2010 numbers. Missouri remained unchanged, producing 18 million turkeys. Virginia increased the number of turkeys raised compared to the previous year by 3%, at 17.5 million. Indiana remained unchanged from 2010 numbers at 16 million turkeys.
For more poultry statistics, please visit www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.

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