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Broiler Chick Placements, March 2026

According to the March 18th 2026 USDA Broiler Hatchery Report, 1,269 million eggs were set over five weeks extending from February 14th through March 14th 2026 inclusive. This was approximately two percent higher compared to the corresponding period in 2025.

Total chick placements for the U.S. over the five-week period amounted to 973 million chicks. Claimed hatchability for the period averaged 78.7 Percent (79.2 percent for previous 5-week period) for eggs set three weeks earlier. Each 1.0 percent change in hatchability represents approximately 1.96 million chicks placed per week and 1.86 million broilers processed, assuming five percent culls and mortality and within the current range of weekly settings.

Cumulative chick placements for the period January 4th through December 27th 2025 amounted to 10.00 billion chicks up approximately one percent from calendar 2024. Chick placements for 2026 to March 14th have attained 1.95 billion, up two percent from the corresponding period in 2025.

According to the March 23rd 2025 edition of USDA Chickens and Eggs, pullet breeder chicks hatched and intended for U.S. placement during February 2026 amounted to 9.06 million, up 10.1 percent (0.83 million pullet chicks) from February 2025. Broiler breeder hen complement attained 60.67 million on February 1st 2026, 2.0 percent (1.26 million hens) down from February 2025 but 7.3 percent (4.76 million hens) higher than January 2026.

Broiler Production March 2026

As documented in the March 26th 2026 USDA Weekly Poultry Slaughter Reports for the processing week ending March 21st 2026, 170.2 million broilers were processed at 6.50 lbs. live. This was 1.9 percent more than the 167.0 million processed during the corresponding week in March 2025. Broilers processed in 2026 to date amounted to 2,036 million, 3.7 percent more than the 1,964 million during the corresponding period in 2025.

Ready to cook (RTC) weight for the most recent week in March was 839.7 million lbs. (380,086 metric tons).  This was 1.8 percent more than the 825.1 million lbs. during the corresponding week in March 2025. Dressing percentage was a nominal 76.0 percent. For 2026 to date RTC broiler production attained 10,137 million lbs. (4.597 million metric tons). This quantity was 3.3 percent more than for the corresponding period in 2025.

The USDA posted live-weight data for the past week ending March 21st and YTD 2026 including:-

February 2026 Frozen Inventory

According to the March 24th 2026 USDA Cold Storage Report, stocks of broiler products as of February 28th 2026 compared to February 28th 2025 showed differences with respect to the following categories:-

• Total Chicken category attained 780.1 million lbs. (353,798 metric tons) corresponding to approximately one week of production based on recent weekly RTC output. The February 28th 2026 inventory was down 1.7 percent compared to 793,487 million lbs. (359,858 metric tons) on February 28th 2025 and down 0.5 percent from the previous month of January 2026.

• Leg Quarters were down 19.4 percent to 48.8 million lbs. compared to February 28th 2025 consistent with the data on exports. Inventory was up 8.1 percent from January 2026. Given the trend in inventory of leg quarters it is evident that this category continues to be shipped in varying quantities as the principal (96 percent) chicken export product to a number of nations.
• The Breasts and Breast Meat category was down 7.5 percent from February 28th 2025 to 234.4 million lbs. indicating a relatively higher domestic consumer demand for this category possibly reflecting concern over inflation in the cost of alternative proteins. The February 28th 2026 stock level was 1.2 percent higher than January 31st 2026. The trend through 2025 and into 2026 suggests stable retail and food service demand for the white meat category.  This is despite promotion of chicken sandwiches and wraps by QSRs in the face of a higher cost for beef coupled with an increasing pattern of eat-at-home consumption.

• Total inventory of dark meat (drumsticks legs, thighs and thigh quarters but excluding leg quarters) on February 28th 2026 decreased 3.5 percent from February 28th 2025 to 64.2 million lbs. This difference suggests an increase in domestic demand for lower-priced dark meat against the prevailing price of white chicken meat. Higher prices for competitive proteins offer an opportunity to increase domestic demand for this category with innovative product development and promotion.

• Wings showed a 1.5 percent decrease from February 28th 2025, contributing to a stock of 52.9 million lbs. Inventory of wings was 3.2 percent higher compared to the end of January 2026. Movement in stock over the past 12 months has demonstrated slightly higher demand for this category despite competition from “boneless wings.” Increased consumption traditionally associated with significant sports events including College bowls and the NFL Super Bowl traditionally reduce the volumes of storage in January through April. Unit price increased progressively during 2024 but plateaued in 2025 due to consumer fatigue and competition from competing protein snacks despite continued interest in professional and collegiate football.

• The inventory of Paws and Feet was 27.0 percent lower than on February 28th 2025 to 24.4 million lbs. Stock was 9.1 percent lower than on January 31st 2026. Prior to the April 2020 Phase-1 Trade Agreement approximately half of the shipments of paws and feet destined for Hong Kong were landed and transshipped to the Mainland, a trend that is re-emerging.
• The Other category comprising 333.0 million lbs. on February 28th 2026 was up 6.6 percent from February 28th 2025 but represented a substantial 42.7 percent of inventory. The high proportion of the Other category suggests further classification or re-allocation by USDA to the designated major categories.

February 2026 Processed Broiler Production

The monthly USDA Poultry Slaughter Report was released on March 27th covering February 2026. The month comprised 20 week-days, the same as February 2025. The following values were documented for the month of February 2026:-

• A total of 753.5 million broilers were processed in February 2026, up 22.4 million or 3.1 percent from February 2025;
• Total live weight in February 2026 attained 5,030 million lbs., up 223.0 million lbs. or 4.6 percent from February 2025;
• Unit live weight in February 2026 was 6.68 lbs., up 0.11lb. (1.7 percent) from February 2025.
• RTC in February 2026 attained 3,807 million lbs., up 173.5 million lbs. or 4.8 percent from February 2006.
• WOG yield in February 2026 was up an inconsequential 0.1 percent to 75.7 percent, from 75.6 percent in February 2025.
• The proportion marketed as chilled in February 2026 comprised 93.3 percent of RTC output, unchanged from February 2025.
• Ante-mortem condemnation as a proportion of live weight attained 0.19 percent during February 2026 down from 0.21 percent in February 2025.
• Post-mortem condemnations as a proportion of processed mass corresponded to 0.48 percent during February 2026, unchanged from February 2025. 

Comments

Mexico has recognized the OIE principle of regionalization after intensive negotiations between SENASICA and the U.S. counterpart, USDA-APHIS assisted by USAPEEC. Provided importing nations adhere to OIE guidelines on regionalization, localized outbreaks of avian influenza or possibly Newcastle disease will affect exports only from states or counties with outbreaks in commercial flocks. The response of China, Japan and some other nations is less predictable with bans placed on a nationwide or statewide basis. The response by China to outbreaks is influenced more by self-interest than considerations of scientific fact or international trade obligations. Other importing nations have confined restrictions to counties following the WOAH principle of regionalization. The challenge facing the U.S. as the second largest exporting nation after Brazil, will be to gain acceptance for controlled vaccination against HPAI in specific industry sectors and regions with appropriate surveillance and certification to the satisfaction of importing nations.