U.S. poultry certified wholesome during October (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.97 billion pounds, up 8 percent from the amount certified in October 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
The September revised certified total, at 3.43 billion pounds, was down 7 percent from September 2011 but represented an increase of 19,000 pounds from the preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during October was 5.24 billion pounds, up 8 percent from 4.87 billion pounds in 2011, according to the USDA. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.44 billion pounds, up 8 percent from October 2011. Mature chickens, at 69.3 million pounds, were up 1 percent, while turkey inspections totaled 724 million pounds, up 10 percent from 2011 numbers. Ducks totaled 14.3 million pounds, up 2 percent from 2011.
Young chickens slaughtered during October averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from October 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.8 pounds per bird, up 1 percent, and turkeys slaughtered averaged 29 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from October 2011.
For more U.S. poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.
