Poultry Slaughter Activity Lags

WASHINGTON - Dec 24/12 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Dec 24/12 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within November 2012 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.57 billion pounds, up 3% from the quantity certified in November 2011, shows the latest USDA sector report, shows the latest USDA sector report.

The October 2012 revised certified total at 3.97 billion pounds, was up 8% from October 2011. The October revision represented an rise of 198 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry throughout November 2012 was 4.73 billion pounds, up 3% from 4.60 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected came in at 4.01 billion pounds, up 3% from November 2011. Mature chickens, at 59.3 million pounds, were down 5% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 642 million pounds, up a bit from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.1 million pounds, down 1% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2012 averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 2% from November 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.73 pounds per bird, up a bit from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2012 averaged 28.9 pounds per bird, up 3% from November 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2012 totalled 9.63 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.20% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.2 million pounds, were 0.92% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.91% a year earlier.