Poultry Slaughter Activity Declines

WASHINGTON - Nov 25/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Nov 25/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within October 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 4.15 billion pounds, up 2% from the quantity certified in October 2013, reveals the current USDA update on the sector, reveals the current USDA update on the sector.

The September 2014 revised certified total at 3.86 billion pounds, was up 7% from September 2013. The September revision represented an gain of 2.21 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within October 2014 was 5.47 billion pounds, up 2% from 5.35 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.68 billion pounds, up 1% from October 2013. Mature chickens, at 74.4 million pounds, were up 1% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 700 million pounds, up 8% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 16.7 million pounds, up 10% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2014 averaged 6.07 pounds per bird, up 1% from October 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.95 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2014 averaged 30.2 pounds per bird, up 1% from October 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2014 totalled 11.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.20% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 40.0 million pounds, were 0.96% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.91% a year earlier.