U.S. poultry certified wholesome during January (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.62 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in January 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
The December 2011 revised certified total came in at 3.37 billion pounds, down 9 percent from December 2010 and an increase of 1.69 million pounds from the preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during January was 4.8 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 4.84 billion pounds in 2011. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.12 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 2011 numbers, while mature chickens, at 67.9 million pounds, were up 6 percent. Turkey inspections totaled 600 million pounds, up 3 percent from the same time in 2011, and ducks totaled 14.3 million pounds, down 1 percent.
Young chickens slaughtered during January averaged 5.84 pounds per bird, down slightly from January 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.29 pounds per bird, down 4 percent from 2011 numbers. Turkeys slaughtered during January averaged 30.9 pounds per bird, up slightly from January 2011.
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