June 27, 2024

US poultry production declines in May due to bird flu concerns

US poultry production experienced a decline in May, according to the US Department of Agriculture, Brownfield Ag News reported.

Last month, 4.5 billion pounds of poultry were certified as wholesome, marking a 2% decrease from May 2023. Both chicken and turkey slaughter rates and total live weights were lower.

The decline in turkey slaughter is partly attributed to reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza in parts of the US.

The May chicken slaughter totalled 821.354 million head with a total live weight of 5.353 billion pounds, both down 1% from last year. The turkey slaughter stood at 16.879 million head, a 12% decrease, with a total live weight of 553.947 million pounds, a 9% decrease.

Year-to-date, US poultry production has reached 21.797 billion pounds, slightly surpassing the pace of 2023.

The USDA is scheduled to release its next round of annual poultry production projections on July 12, 2024.

-      Brownfield Ag News