U.S. Poultry Slaughter Activity Falls

WASHINGTON - Feb 25/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Feb 25/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout January 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.68 billion pounds, down 4% from the quantity certified in January 2013, shows the latest USDA statistics, shows the latest USDA statistics.

The December 2013 revised certified total at 3.57 billion pounds, was up 7% from December 2012. The December revision represented an gain of 11 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within January 2014 was 4.88 billion pounds, down 4% from 5.09 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected amounted to 4.23 billion pounds, down 3% from January 2013. Mature chickens, at 69.4 million pounds, were down 7% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 567 million pounds, down 13% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.8 million pounds, up 2% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2014 averaged 6.00 pounds per bird, up 1% from January 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.46 pounds per bird, up 2% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2014 averaged 31.1 pounds per bird, down 2% from January 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2014 totalled 11.6 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.24% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 37.6 million pounds, were 1.01% of quantities inspected, as versus 0.98% a year earlier.