U.S. Poultry Slaughter Volume Falls

WASHINGTON - Mar 28/08 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome during February 2008 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.45 billion pounds, up 9% from the amount certified in February 2007, according to the current USDA statistics.

The January 2008 revised certified total at 3.83 billion pounds, was up 8% from January 2007. The January revision represented an gain of 9.00 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during February 2008 was 4.65 billion pounds, up 9% from 4.27 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.92 billion pounds, up 8% from February 2007. Mature chickens, at 69.6 million pounds, were up 20% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 638 million pounds, up 13% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.6 million pounds, down 7% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2008 averaged 5.54 pounds per bird, up 2% from February 2007. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.89 pounds per bird, down somewhat from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2008 averaged 29.6 pounds per bird, up 3% from February 2007.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2008 totalled 16.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.36% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.40% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 47.3 million pounds, were 1.35% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.45% a year earlier.

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