Poultry slaughter report shows ready-to-cook weight down from 2011

Poultry certified wholesome’s ready-to-cook weight during December 2012 totaled 3.34 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in December 2011, according to the Poultry Slaughter report released January 24 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Poultry certified wholesome’s ready-to-cook weight during December 2012 totaled 3.34 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in December 2011, according to the Poultry Slaughter report released January 24 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The November 2012 revised certified total at 3.57 billion pounds was up 3 percent from November 2011. The November revision represented an increase of 1.96 million pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during December 2012 was 4.42 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 4.46 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.80 billion pounds, down slightly from December 2011. Mature chickens, at 59.1 million pounds, were down 9 percent from the previous year. 

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2012 averaged 5.91 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from December from a year ago. The average live weight for mature chickens was 5.07 pounds per bird, down 9 percent from a year ago.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2012 totaled 0.35 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live-weight inspected, equal to that of last year. Post mortem condemnations, at 32.1 million pounds were 0.95 percent of quantities inspected, again equal to that of last year.

Turkey inspections totaled 550 million pounds, down 4 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.4 million pounds, down 5 percent from last year.

Turkeys slaughtered during December 2012 averaged 30.8 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from December 2011.

For more U.S. poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.

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