Poultry Slaughter Output Declines

WASHINGTON - Nov 23/11 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Nov 23/11 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within October 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.67 billion pounds, down 2% from the quantity certified in October 2010, shows today's USDA statistics, shows today's USDA statistics.

The September 2011 revised certified total at 3.71 billion pounds, was down 1% from September 2010. The September revision represented an gain of 0.33 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during October 2011 was 4.86 billion pounds, down 3% from 4.99 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.12 billion pounds, down 3% from October 2010. Mature chickens, at 68.6 million pounds, were up 6% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 659 million pounds, up a bit from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.0 million pounds, up 4% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2011 averaged 5.88 pounds per bird, up a bit from October 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.72 pounds per bird, down 3% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2011 averaged 28.3 pounds per bird, down slightly from October 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2011 totalled 9.48 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.20% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 32.1 million pounds, were 0.87% of quantities inspected, as versus 0.92% a year earlier.