November Poultry Slaughter Dips

WASHINGTON - Jan 7/04 - SNS -- Poultry slaughter activity dropped 3% during November, with 2.92 billion pounds certified wholesome on a ready-to-cook weight basis, says the USDA. Updated totals for October 2003 show that 3.64 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during November 2003 was 3.92 billion pounds, down 3% from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.27 billion pounds, down 2% from November 2002, mature chickens at 54.6 million pounds, were down 18% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 583 million pounds, down 7%, and ducks totaled 12.6 million pounds, up 4% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2003 averaged 5.23 pounds per bird, up 1% from November 2002. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.86 pounds per bird, up 4% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2003 averaged 25.4 pounds per bird, down 2% from November 2002.

Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2003 totaled 13.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33% of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.35% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.0 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.02% of quantities inspected, compared with 1.15% a year earlier.

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