Poultry Slaughter Output Lags

WASHINGTON - Mar 26/12 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Mar 26/12 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout February 2012 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.47 billion pounds, up 4% from the quantity certified in February 2011, according to the current USDA statistics, according to the current USDA statistics.

The January 2012 revised certified total at 3.62 billion pounds, was down 1% from January 2011. The January revision represented an gain of 2.69 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within February 2012 was 4.60 billion pounds, up 4% from 4.42 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.93 billion pounds, up 4% from February 2011. Mature chickens, at 61.0 million pounds, were down a bit from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 586 million pounds, up 7% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.5 million pounds, up 7% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 5.82 pounds per bird, up 1% from February 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.52 pounds per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 30.8 pounds per bird, up 1% from February 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2012 totalled 9.56 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.26% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.4 million pounds, were 0.98% of quantities inspected, as compared to 1.09% a year earlier.