Poultry Slaughter Volume Falls

WASHINGTON - Oct 25/11 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Oct 25/11 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout September 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.71 billion pounds, down 1% from the quantity certified in September 2010, according to the latest USDA report, according to the latest USDA report.

The August 2011 revised certified total at 3.90 billion pounds, was up 4% from August 2010. The August revision represented an rise of 57.4 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during September 2011 was 4.92 billion pounds, down 2% from 5.00 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected came in at 4.24 billion pounds, down 2% from September 2010. Mature chickens, at 73.8 million pounds, were up 2% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 594 million pounds, up 2% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.1 million pounds, down 9% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 5.86 pounds per bird, up 2% from September 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.78 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 29.1 pounds per bird, up 2% from September 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during September 2011 totalled 10.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.23% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.1 million pounds, were 0.91% of quantities inspected, as versus 0.90% a year earlier.