Poults hatched, poults placed advance in March. 

WASHINGTON – Turkey eggs in incubators on April 1 totaled 28.7 million, down 3 percent from April 1, 2016, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the US Dept. of Agriculture said in its Turkey Hatchery report. Compared to March 1, 2017, turkey eggs in incubators were down 4 percent.

Meanwhile, poults hatched during March advanced 8 percent compared to a year ago. NASS reported 25.6 million turkey poults hatched during the month. Poults hatched were up 8 percent compared to the February 2017 total of 23.6 million.

Net poults placed in March totaled 24.0 million, up 6 percent from the number placed in March last year, NASS reported. Net placements for March climbed 9 percent over the February total of 22 million poults.