U.S. Poultry Slaughter Volume Drops

WASHINGTON - May 27/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - May 27/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome throughout April 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.74 billion pounds, down a bit from the quantity certified in April 2013, reveals today's USDA report on the sector, reveals today's USDA report on the sector.

The March 2014 revised certified total at 3.61 billion pounds, was up 2% from March 2013. The March revision represented an gain of 5.03 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during April 2014 was 4.93 billion pounds, down 1% from 4.97 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.26 billion pounds, up slightly from April 2013. Mature chickens, at 70.6 million pounds, were down 2% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 588 million pounds, down 7% from a year ago. Ducks totalled 15.7 million pounds, up 7% from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during April 2014 averaged 5.99 pounds per bird, up 1% from April 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.58 pounds per bird, up 8% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2014 averaged 30.8 pounds per bird, down slightly from April 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2014 totalled 11.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.23% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.21% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.5 million pounds, were 1.02% of quantities inspected, as versus 1.01% a year earlier.