Poultry Slaughter Activity Falls

WASHINGTON - May 31/07 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within April 2007 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.38 billion pounds, up 2% from the amount certified in April 2006, according to this USDA statistics.

The March 2007 revised certified total at 3.44 billion pounds, was down 7% from March 2006. The March revision represented an increase of 10 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April 2007 was 4.59 billion pounds, up 4% from 4.42 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.93 billion pounds, up 4% from April 2006. Mature chickens, at 61.7 million pounds, were down 4% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 584 million pounds, up 7% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 15.4 million pounds, down 4% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during April 2007 averaged 5.50 pounds per bird, up 1% from April 2006. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.86 pounds per bird, down 3% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2007 averaged 28.6 pounds per bird, up 1% from April 2006.

Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2007 totalled 14.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.32% of the live weight inspected, versus 0.32% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 45.1 million pounds, were 1.32% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.36% a year earlier.

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