Poultry Slaughter Activity Drops

WASHINGTON - Jan 25/10 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within December 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) came in at 3.45 billion pounds, down 1% from the quantity certified in December 2008, according to the current USDA statistics.

The November 2009 revised certified total at 3.31 billion pounds, was up 3% from November 2008. The November revision represented an increase of 22.1 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during December 2009 was 4.60 billion pounds, down 1% from 4.64 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.95 billion pounds, up a little from December 2008. Mature chickens, at 61.3 million pounds, were down 4% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 572 million pounds, down 8% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.4 million pounds, down 2% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2009 averaged 5.65 pounds per bird, up 2% from December 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.49 pounds per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2009 averaged 29.6 pounds per bird, up slightly from December 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2009 totalled 12.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.27% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.31% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.2 million pounds, were 0.98% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.17% a year earlier.