U.S. Poultry Slaughter Activity Falls

WASHINGTON - Mar 25/10 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout February 2010 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.20 billion pounds, up a little from the amount certified in February 2009, judging from today's USDA report on the sector.

The January 2010 revised certified total at 3.30 billion pounds, was down 3% from January 2009. The January revision represented an increase of 1.1 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during February 2010 was 4.26 billion pounds, down slightly from 4.27 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.66 billion pounds, up slightly from February 2009. Mature chickens, at 56.1 million pounds, were down 6% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 534 million pounds, down 4% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 12.3 million pounds, up 9% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2010 averaged 5.62 pounds per bird, up 1% from February 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.48 pounds per bird, down 6% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2010 averaged 30.1 pounds per bird, up 2% from February 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2010 totalled 12.2 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.29% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.29% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.3 million pounds, were 1.03% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.20% a year earlier.