News

Broiler placements continue to run ahead of a year ago

U.S. broiler chicken numbers continue to rise.

The USDA says 256.077 million broiler-type eggs were set into incubation, up 317,000 on the week and 3% on the year. The average rate of hatchability did dip fractionally to 79.2%.

195.695 million broiler-type chicks were placed into meat production, dropping 2.788 million head from the previous week due to lower sets earlier this month, but rising 2% from a year ago. The overall pace remains 2% ahead of 2025.

Those birds will start heading to market in May.

The USDA’s updated annual broiler production projection is out May 12^th.

Comparisons for Brownfield states:

Arkansas: Sets: 27.247 million eggs, compared to 27.032 million the week before; Placements: 22.68 million head, compared to 23.054 million the prior week

Kentucky: Sets: 7.998 million eggs, compared to 7.998 million the week before; Placements: 5.88 million head, compared to 5.948 million the prior week

Missouri: Sets: 9.185 million eggs, unchanged from the week before; Placements: 5.886 million head, compared to 5.309 million the prior week

California/Tennessee/West Virginia: Sets: 16.271 million eggs, compared to 16.318 million the week before; Placements: 14.229 million head, compared to 14.566 million the prior week