December 27, 2012

Certified wholesome poultry sees 3% increase in November

Certified wholesome poultry reached 3.57 billion pounds in November 2012, a 3% rise from the amount certified in November 2011.

The October 2012 revised certified total at 3.97 billion pounds, was up 8% from October 2011. The October revision represented an increase of 198,000 pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during November 2012 was 4.73 billion pounds, up 3% from 4.60 billion pounds a year ago.

Young chickens inspected totalled 4.01 billion pounds, up 3% from November 2011. Mature chickens, at 59.3 million pounds, were down 5% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 642 million pounds, up slightly from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.1 million pounds, down 1% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2012 averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 2% from November 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.73 pounds per bird, up slightly from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2012 averaged 28.9 pounds per bird, up 3% from November 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2012 totalled 9.63 million pounds.

Condemnations were 0.2% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.2 million pounds, were 0.92% of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.91% a year earlier.