US - Poultry certified wholesome during April 2007 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.38 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the amount certified in April 2006. The March 2007 revised certified total at 3.44 billion pounds, was down 7 percent from March 2006. The March revision represented an increase of 10 thousand pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April 2007 was 4.59 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 4.42 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.93 billion pounds, up 4 percent from April 2006. Mature chickens, at 61.7 million pounds, were down 4 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 584 million pounds, up 7 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 15.4 million pounds, down 4 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during April 2007 averaged 5.50 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from April 2006. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.86 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2007 averaged 28.6 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from April 2006.

Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2007 totaled 14.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.32 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.32 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 45.1 million pounds, were 1.32 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.36 percent a year earlier.

April 2007 contained 21 weekdays and 4 Saturdays, while April 2006 had 20 weekdays and 5 Saturdays.

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