U.S. Poultry Slaughter Activity Drops

WASHINGTON - Nov 24/10 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Nov 24/10 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within October 2010 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.76 billion pounds, up 3% from the quantity certified in October 2009, shows the latest USDA data, shows the latest USDA data.

The September 2010 revised certified total at 3.76 billion pounds, was up 5% from September 2009. The September revision represented an rise of 14.4 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within October 2010 was 4.98 billion pounds, up 3% from 4.83 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected amounted to 4.25 billion pounds, up 3% from October 2009. Mature chickens, at 64.6 million pounds, were down 7% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 655 million pounds, up 3% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.5 million pounds, up 4% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2010 averaged 5.87 pounds per bird, up 4% from October 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.91 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2010 averaged 28.4 pounds per bird, down a little from October 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2010 totalled 10.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.8 million pounds, were 0.92% of quantities inspected, as versus 0.95% a year earlier.