Poultry Slaughter Activity Lags

WASHINGTON - Mar 25/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Mar 25/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within February 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.48 billion pounds, up 3% from the quantity certified in February 2013, shows the current USDA update, shows the current USDA update.

The January 2014 revised certified total at 3.68 billion pounds, was down 4 from January 2013. The January revision represented an rise of 1.15 million pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry within February 2014 was 4.60 billion pounds, up 2% from 4.49 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 3.99 billion pounds, up 4% from February 2013. Mature chickens, at 63.2 million pounds, were up 6% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 528 million pounds, down 9% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.0 million pounds, up 5% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2014 averaged 6.01 pounds per bird, up 2% from February 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.56 pounds per bird, up 3% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2014 averaged 31.0 pounds per bird, down 1% from February 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2014 totalled 10.9 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.24% of the live weight inspected, as compared to 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.5 million pounds, were 1.04% of quantities inspected, as versus 1.07% a year earlier.