Poultry Slaughter Activity Drops

WASHINGTON - Oct 25/12 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Oct 25/12 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within September 2012 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.43 billion pounds, down 7% from the quantity certified in September 2011, shows this USDA report on the sector, shows this USDA report on the sector.

The August 2012 revised certified total at 3.91 billion pounds, was up a bit from August 2011. The August revision represented an rise of 1.79 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry throughout September 2012 was 4.55 billion pounds, down 8% from 4.92 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected came in at 3.90 billion pounds, down 8% from September 2011. Mature chickens, at 69.1 million pounds, were down 6% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 567 million pounds, down 5% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 12.1 million pounds, down 12% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during September 2012 averaged 5.88 pounds per bird, up a bit from September 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.89 pounds per bird, up 2% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during September 2012 averaged 29.3 pounds per bird, up 1% from September 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during September 2012 totalled 9.31 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.20% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 29.5 million pounds, were 0.85% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.90% a year earlier.