March Poultry Slaughter Total Slips

WASHINGTON - May 3/02 - STAT -- The quantity of poultry certified wholesome during March 2002 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.09 billion pounds, down 1% from the amount certified in March 2001, according to the USDA. Updated totals for February 2002 show that 2.97 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during March 2002 was 4.16 billion pounds, down 1% from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.51 billion pounds, down slightly from March 2001, and mature chickens totaled 71.5 million pounds, down 3%. Turkey inspections totaled 569 million pounds, down 3%, while ducks totaled 13.0 million pounds, a 7% decrease.

Young chickens slaughtered during March 2002 averaged 5.12 pounds per bird, up 2% from March 2001. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.16 pounds per bird, up slightly from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during March 2002 averaged 27.2 pounds per bird, up 1% from March 2001.

Ante-mortem condemnations during March 2002 totaled 18.9 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.45% of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.42% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 49.6 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.32% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.70% a year earlier.

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