Poultry Slaughter Output Falls

WASHINGTON - Feb 25/13 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Feb 25/13 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout January 2013 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.85 billion pounds, up 6% from the quantity certified in January 2012, according to this USDA data, according to this USDA data.

The December 2012 revised certified total at 3.34 billion pounds, was down 1% from December 2011. The December revision represented an gain of 157 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during January 2013 was 5.09 billion pounds, up 6% from 4.81 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.35 billion pounds, up 5% from January 2012. Mature chickens, at 74.2 million pounds, were up 9% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 654 million pounds, up 9% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.6 million pounds, up 2% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2013 averaged 5.92 pounds per bird, up 1% from January 2012. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.39 pounds per bird, up 2% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2013 averaged 31.6 pounds per bird, up 2% from January 2012.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2013 totalled 11.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.3 million pounds, were 0.99% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.95% a year earlier.