USDA broiler production forecasts lowered

The USDA is projecting that less broiler meat will be produced in 2016 and in 2017 than was previously expected.

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Yurii Bukhanovskyi | Bigstock
Yurii Bukhanovskyi | Bigstock

The USDA is projecting that less broiler meat will be produced in 2016 and in 2017 than was previously expected.

In the agency’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, issued on September 12, a total of 40.9 billion pounds of broiler meat was expected to be produced in the United States during 2016, down from the almost 41 billion pounds projected in the WASDE report released in August. The USDA also lowered its forecast for 2017 broiler production, calling for about 42 billion pounds, down from the August estimate of 42.06 billion pounds.

In the report, the agency stated that it is lowering its expectations for U.S. broiler production because of “slower than expected growth in the second half of the year.” It also cited that bird weights have been lower than previously expected.

U.S. turkey production

While the USDA is backing off of its earlier estimates for broiler production in the U.S. in 2016, its forecast for domestic turkey production has been raised when compared to the previous month.

The September WASDE report calls for 6.06 billion pounds of turkey meat, while the August report called for 5.99 billion pounds. The agency adjusted its projections based off of production and hatchery data.

U.S. turkey production estimates for 2017 remained unchanged from the figures released in August. Both WASDE reports anticipate that 6.135 billion pounds of turkey will be produced in 2017.

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