Poultry Slaughter Volume Drops

WASHINGTON - Feb 25/09 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within January 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.39 billion pounds, down 12% from the quantity certified in January 2008, shows this USDA report on the sector.

The December 2008 revised certified total at 3.47 billion pounds, was up 2% from December 2007. The December revision represented an increase of 717 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during January 2009 was 4.53 billion pounds, down 12% from 5.16 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.86 billion pounds, down 12% from January 2008. Mature chickens, at 62.1 million pounds, were down 15% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 594 million pounds, down 14% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.0 million pounds, down 11% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2009 averaged 5.56 pounds per bird, down somewhat from January 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.63 pounds per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2009 averaged 30.5 pounds per bird, up slightly from January 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2009 totalled 15.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.39% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 41.3 million pounds, were 1.20% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.31% a year earlier.

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