U.S. Poultry Slaughter Output Falls

WASHINGTON - Sep 25/14 - SNS -- WASHINGTON - Sep 25/14 - SNS -- Poultry certified wholesome within August 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) quantityed to 3.74 billion pounds, down 3% from the quantity certified in August 2013, reveals the current USDA report on the sector, reveals the current USDA report on the sector.

The July 2014 revised certified total at 3.89 billion pounds, was up 1% from July 2013. The July revision represented an rise of 572 thousand pounds from a month ago's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during August 2014 was 4.94 billion pounds, down 3% from 5.08 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected came in at 4.24 billion pounds, down 3% from August 2013. Mature chickens, at 72.6 million pounds, were down 7% from a year ago. Turkey inspections totalled 604 million pounds, down a bit from a year ago. Ducks totalled 14.5 million pounds, up 4% from the previous year.

Young chickens slaughtered during August 2014 averaged 5.98 pounds per bird, up 1% from August 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.77 pounds per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during August 2014 averaged 30.0 pounds per bird, up 1% from August 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during August 2014 totalled 11.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as versus 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 35.8 million pounds, were 0.95% of quantities inspected, as versus 0.88% a year earlier.