Poultry Slaughter Volume Drops

WASHINGTON - Apr 24/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Apr 24/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within March 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.60 billion pounds, up 2% from the quantity certified in March 2013, reveals the latest USDA update on the sector, reveals the latest USDA update on the sector.

The February 2014 revised certified total at 3.48 billion pounds, was up 3% from February 2013. The February revision represented an gain of 364 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within March 2014 was 4.77 billion pounds, up 2% from 4.66 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.11 billion pounds, up 3% from March 2013. Mature chickens, at 65.5 million pounds, were up 10% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 572 million pounds, down 3% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.9 million pounds, up 1% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during March 2014 averaged 5.98 pounds per bird, up 2% from March 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.57 pounds per bird, up 6% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during March 2014 averaged 31.1 pounds per bird, up a bit from March 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during March 2014 totalled 11.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.23% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 37.8 million pounds, were 1.04% of quantities inspected, as compared to 1.06% a year earlier.