Poultry Slaughter Activity Lags

WASHINGTON - Jun 24/13 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Jun 24/13 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within May 2013 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.84 billion pounds, down 1% from the quantity certified in May 2012, according to the latest USDA statistics, according to the latest USDA statistics.

The April 2013 revised certified total at 3.75 billion pounds, was up 7% from April 2012. The April revision represented an gain of 2.50 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during May 2013 was 5.09 billion pounds, down a bit from 5.11 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.37 billion pounds, down a bit from May 2012. Mature chickens, at 72.2 million pounds, were down 3% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 636 million pounds, down 2% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.9 million pounds, down 3% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2013 averaged 5.87 pounds per bird, up 1% from May 2012. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.42 pounds per bird, up 3% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2013 averaged 30.6 pounds per bird, up 2% from May 2012.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2013 totalled 10.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.20% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.20% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.8 million pounds, were 0.95% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.92% a year earlier.