U.S. Poultry Slaughter Activity Lags

WASHINGTON - Jan 23/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Jan 23/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within December 2013 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.56 billion pounds, up 6% from the quantity certified in December 2012, reveals today's USDA statistics, reveals today's USDA statistics.

The November 2013 revised certified total at 3.49 billion pounds, was down 2% from November 2012. The November revision represented an rise of 1.6 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within December 2013 was 4.71 billion pounds, up 7% from 4.42 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.11 billion pounds, up 8% from December 2012. Mature chickens, at 63.5 million pounds, were up 7% from last year. Turkey inspections totalled 529 million pounds, down 4% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 15.8 million pounds, up 9% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2013 averaged 5.99 pounds per bird, up 1% from December 2012. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.43 pounds per bird, up 7% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2013 averaged 30.7 pounds per bird, down a little from December 2012.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2013 totalled 11.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.23% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.1 million pounds, were 1.00% of quantities inspected, as compared to 0.95% a year earlier.