U.S. Poultry Slaughter Volume Falls

WASHINGTON - Feb 25/11 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Feb 25/11 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout January 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.64 billion pounds, up 10% from the quantity certified in January 2010, shows today's USDA data, shows today's USDA data.

The December 2010 revised certified total at 3.69 billion pounds, was up 6% from December 2009. The December revision represented an increase of 5.7 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within January 2011 was 4.83 billion pounds, up 10% from 4.40 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.17 billion pounds, up 10% from January 2010. Mature chickens, at 63.9 million pounds, were up 5% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 581 million pounds, up 9% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.4 million pounds, up 16% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2011 averaged 5.85 pounds per bird, up 4% from January 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.51 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2011 averaged 30.8 pounds per bird, up 1% from January 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2011 totalled 13.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.27% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.30% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.2 million pounds, were 1.04% of quantities inspected, as compared to 1.03% a year earlier.