U.S. Poultry Slaughter Volume Drops

WASHINGTON - Jun 26/09 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within May 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.39 billion pounds, down 9% from the quantity certified in May 2008, reveals this USDA update.

The April 2009 revised certified total at 3.53 billion pounds, was down 7% from April 2008. The April revision represented an increase of 2.77 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2009 was 4.51 billion pounds, down 10% from 5.02 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.87 billion pounds, down 9% from May 2008. Mature chickens, at 65.1 million pounds, were down 18% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 564 million pounds, down 14% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 12.4 million pounds, down 1% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2009 averaged 5.59 pounds per bird, down a little from May 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.62 pounds per bird, down 3% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2009 averaged 28.8 pounds per bird, down 1% from May 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2009 totalled 10.8 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.24% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.30% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 35.4 million pounds, were 1.03% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.17% a year earlier.

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