November 27, 2012

US poultry ready-to-cook weight in October totalled 3.97 billion pounds, up 8% from the amount certified in October 2011.

According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the September 2012 revised certified total of ready-to-cook weights declined 7% to 3.43 billion pounds. The September revision represented an increase of 19,000 pounds from October's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during October 2012 was 5.24 billion pounds, up 8% from 4.87 billion pounds a year ago, NASS said. Young chickens inspected gained 8% to total 4.44 billion pounds. Mature chickens, at 69.3 million pounds, were up 1% from the previous year. Turkey inspections advanced 10% to total 724 million pounds compared to a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.3 million pounds, up 2% from 2011.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2012 averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 1% from October 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens also was up 1% to 5.80 pounds per bird. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2012 averaged 29.0 pounds per bird, up 2% from October 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2012 totalled 10.2 million pounds which was 0.19% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.20% in 2011, according to NASS. Post-mortem condemnations were at 34.9 million pounds which was 0.87% of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.87% a year earlier.