US poultry ready-to-cook weight down 3% in January

During January, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.30 billion pounds, down 3% from the amount certified in January 2009, according to the USDA.

The December 2009 revised certified total at 3.47 billion pounds, was down slightly from December 2008. The December revision represented an increase of 15.7 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

During January, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.64 pounds per bird, up 1% from January 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.43 pounds per bird, down 4% from a year ago.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January totalled 13.2 million pounds Condemnations were 0.30% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.33% one year earlier. At 34.4 million pounds, post-mortem condemnations were 1.03% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.20% a year earlier.