February 1, 2005

U.S. poultry slaughter update

The quantity of U.S. poultry certified wholesome in December totalled 3.33 billion pounds, up 2% from the amount certified in December 2003, according to the USDA's latest poultry slaughter activity, and unchanged from November.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during December 2004 was 4.47 billion pounds, up 2% from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.83 billion pounds, up 2% from December 2003, and mature chickens at 68.9 million pounds, were up 8% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 552 million pounds, down 1%, and ducks totalled 16.2 million pounds, up 7% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2004 averaged 5.30 pounds per bird, up 1% from December 2003. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.62 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2004 averaged 27.7 pounds per bird, up 3% from December 2003.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2004 totalled 21.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.47% of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.38% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 51.5 million pounds (New York dressed weight), were 1.28% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.11% a year earlier.