Poultry Slaughter Activity Falls

WASHINGTON - Nov 25/09 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout October 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.63 billion pounds, down 7% from the quantity certified in October 2008, judging from this USDA report on the sector.

The September 2009 revised certified total at 3.59 billion pounds, was down 4% from September 2008. The September revision represented an gain of 829 thousand pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during October 2009 was 4.82 billion pounds, down 8% from 5.23 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.10 billion pounds, down 7% from October 2008. Mature chickens, at 69.7 million pounds, were down 13% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 635 million pounds, down 13% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.0 million pounds, down 7% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2009 averaged 5.67 pounds per bird, up a little from October 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.84 pounds per bird, unchanged from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2009 averaged 28.4 pounds per bird, down 2% from October 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2009 totalled 10.8 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.26% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.7 million pounds, were 0.95% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.07% a year earlier.