Poultry Slaughter Volume Drops

WASHINGTON - Jun 25/10 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome during May 2010 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.50 billion pounds, up 3% from the quantity certified in May 2009, according to the current USDA statistics.

The April 2010 revised certified total at 3.54 billion pounds, was up 1% from April 2009. The April revision represented an increase of 7.2 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2010 was 4.65 billion pounds, up 3% from 4.51 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.03 billion pounds, up 4% from May 2009. Mature chickens, at 64.4 million pounds, were down 1% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 546 million pounds, down 3% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 12.7 million pounds, up 2% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 5.71 pounds per bird, up 2% from May 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.58 pounds per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 29.7 pounds per bird, up 3% from May 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2010 totalled 10.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.24% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.2 million pounds, were 0.94% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.03% a year earlier.