June 29, 2010

US poultry ready-to-cook weight up 3% in May

The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports a 3% increase in poultry ready-to-cook (RTC) weights in its monthly Poultry Slaughter report for May 2010.

Poultry certified wholesome during May 2010 RTC weight totalled 3.50 billion pounds, up 3% from the amount certified in May 2009. The April 2010 revised certified total at 3.54 billion pounds, was up one% from April 2009. The April revision represented an increase of 7.2 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2010 was 4.65 billion pounds, up three% from 4.51 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.03 billion pounds, up 4% from May 2009. Mature chickens, at 64.4 million pounds, were down one% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 5.71 pounds per bird, up 2% from May 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.58 pounds per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 29.7 pounds per bird, up 3% from May 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2010 totalled 10.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.24% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.2 million pounds, were 0.94% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.03% a year earlier.