US February ready-to-cook poultry weight up

During February, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.20 billion lbs., up slightly from the amount certified in February 2009, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The January 2010 revised certified total at 3.30 billion lbs., was down 3% from January 2009. The January revision represents an increase of 1.1 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during February 2010 was 4.26 billion lbs., down slightly from 4.27 billion lbs. a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.66 billion lbs., up slightly from February 2009. Totalling 56.1 million lbs., mature chickens were down 6% from the previous year.

During February, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.62 lbs. per bird, up 1% from February 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.48 lbs. per bird, down 6% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2010 averaged 30.1 lbs. per bird, up 2% from February 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations in February totalled 12.2 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.29% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.29% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.3 million lbs., were 1.03% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.20% one year earlier.