U.S. Poultry Slaughter Volume Drops

WASHINGTON - Nov 26/12 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Nov 26/12 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within October 2012 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.97 billion pounds, up 8% from the quantity certified in October 2011, shows the latest USDA sector report, shows the latest USDA sector report.

The September 2012 revised certified total at 3.43 billion pounds, was down 7% from September 2011. The September revision represented an gain of 19.0 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during October 2012 was 5.24 billion pounds, up 8% from 4.87 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.44 billion pounds, up 8% from October 2011. Mature chickens, at 69.3 million pounds, were up 1% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 724 million pounds, up 10% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.3 million pounds, up 2% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2012 averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 1% from October 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.80 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2012 averaged 29.0 pounds per bird, up 2% from October 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2012 totalled 10.2 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.19% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.20% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.9 million pounds, were 0.87% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.87% a year earlier.