U.S. Poultry Slaughter Slips

WASHINGTON - Aug 31/05 - SNS -- The quantity of poultry slaughtered in the United States in July was down 3% from last year at 3.29 billion pounds (ready-to-cook weight) certified wholesome, reports the USDA. Updated totals for June 2005 show that 3.61 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during July 2005 was 4.42 billion pounds, down 3% from 4.55 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.79 billion pounds, down 2% from July 2004, and mature chickens at 68.6 million pounds, were down 3% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 545 million pounds, down 7%, and ducks totaled 14.2 million pounds, down 1% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during July 2005 averaged 5.27 pounds per bird, up 1% from July 2004. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.84 pounds per bird, up 3% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during July 2005 averaged 27.6 pounds per bird, up 4% from July 2004.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2005 totaled 19.8 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.45% of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.48% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 42.4 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.07% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.22% a year earlier.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here