Poultry Slaughter Activity Drops

WASHINGTON - Jan 25/11 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Jan 25/11 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout December 2010 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.69 billion pounds, up 6% from the quantity certified in December 2009, according to the latest USDA sector report, according to the latest USDA sector report.

The November 2010 revised certified total at 3.70 billion pounds, was up 12% from November 2009. The November revision represented an gain of 488 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry throughout December 2010 was 4.90 billion pounds, up 6% from 4.62 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected amounted to 4.23 billion pounds, up 7% from December 2009. Mature chickens, at 69.7 million pounds, were up 14% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 578 million pounds, up 1% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 15.0 million pounds, up 4% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2010 averaged 5.85 pounds per bird, up 4% from December 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.79 pounds per bird, up 5% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2010 averaged 30.0 pounds per bird, up 1% from December 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2010 totalled 13.2 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.27% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.27% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 37.3 million pounds, were 1.00% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.98% a year earlier.