U.S. Poultry Slaughter Volume Falls

WASHINGTON - Aug 25/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Aug 25/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within July 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.89 billion pounds, up 1% from the quantity certified in July 2013, judging from this USDA statistics, judging from this USDA statistics.

The June 2014 revised certified total at 3.75 billion pounds, was up 6% from June 2013. The June revision represented an gain of 1.95 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry throughout July 2014 was 5.13 billion pounds, up 1% from 5.10 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.42 billion pounds, up 1% from July 2013. Mature chickens, at 69.5 million pounds, were up 2% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 626 million pounds, down 3% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 15.7 million pounds, up 10% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during July 2014 averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 2% from July 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.92 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during July 2014 averaged 30.1 pounds per bird, up 1% from July 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2014 totalled 11.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.9 million pounds, were 0.94% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.87% a year earlier.