Poultry Slaughter Volume Lags

WASHINGTON - Jul 25/11 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Jul 25/11 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within June 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.86 billion pounds, up 5% from the quantity certified in June 2010, according to the current USDA statistics, according to the current USDA statistics.

The May 2011 revised certified total at 3.79 billion pounds, was up 8% from May 2010. The May revision represented an gain of 10.0 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during June 2011 was 5.11 billion pounds, up 5% from 4.88 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.37 billion pounds, up 4% from June 2010. Mature chickens, at 79.0 million pounds, were up 12% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 650 million pounds, up 7% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.0 million pounds, up 3% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during June 2011 averaged 5.81 pounds per bird, up 3% from June 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.03 pounds per bird, up 5% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during June 2011 averaged 29.3 pounds per bird, up 1% from June 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during June 2011 totalled 11.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.23% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.25% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.2 million pounds, were 0.93% of quantities inspected, as versus 0.90% a year earlier.