Poultry Slaughter Output Rose in June

WASHINGTON - Aug 9/04 - SNS -- Poultry slaughter activity was up in June, advancing 4% from year earlier levels to 3.42 billion pounds of poultry certified wholesome by the USDA. Updated totals for May 2004 show that 3.27 billion pounds were certified.

The USDA said the preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during June 2004 was 4.61 billion pounds, up 4 % from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.94 billion pounds, up 6% from June 2003, and mature chickens at 70.1 million pounds, were down 3% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 591 million pounds, down 3%, and ducks totaled 14.6 million pounds, up 20% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during June 2004 averaged 5.23 pounds per bird, up slightly from June 2003. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.65 pounds per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during June 2004 averaged 27.5 pounds per bird, up slightly from June 2003.

Ante-mortem condemnations during June 2004 totaled 19.6 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.42% of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.40% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 52.1 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.25% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.15% a year earlier.

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