May 1, 2013

During March 2013, young chickens slaughtered in the US averaged 5.87 pounds per bird, up 1% from March 2012 while the average live weight of mature chickens was 5.26 pounds per bird, up 2% from a year ago.

This is according to USDA's monthly Poultry Slaughter report.

Turkeys slaughtered during March 2013 averaged 30.9 pounds per bird, up 1% from March 2012.

Poultry certified wholesome during March 2013 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.52 billion pounds, down 2% from March 2012. There was one less weekday in March this year than last year.

The February 2013 revised certified total at 3.39 billion pounds, was down 2% from February 2012. The February revision represented an increase of 325,000 pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during March 2013 was 4.66 billion pounds, down 2% from 4.77 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.99 billion pounds, down 2% from March 2012. Mature chickens, at 59.4 million pounds, were down 6% from the previous year.

Turkey inspections totalled 591 million pounds, down 6% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.7 million pounds, down slightly from last year.