U.S. Poultry Slaughter Rises 4%

WASHINGTON - Sep 30/05 - SNS -- The quantity of poultry slaughtered and certified wholesome in the United States in August rose 4% above year earlier levels to 3.66 billion pounds, according to the USDA. Updated totals for July 2005 show that 3.29 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during August 2005 was 4.90 billion pounds, up 3% from 4.73 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.19 billion pounds, up 3% from August 2004, and mature chickens at 76.1 million pounds, were up 3% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 617 million pounds, up 4%, and ducks totaled 15.9 million pounds, up 10% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during August 2005 averaged 5.28 pounds per bird, up slightly from August 2004. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.82 pounds per bird, up 2% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during August 2005 averaged 26.6 pounds per bird, up 1% from August 2004.

Ante-mortem condemnations during August 2005 totaled 20.6 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.42% of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.43% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 47.1 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.07% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.24% a year earlier.

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