Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 1 Percent from Last Year

Poultry certified wholesome during May 2007 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.73 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in May 2006. The April 2007 revised certified total at 3.38 billion pounds, was up 2 percent from April 2006. The April revision represented an increase of 6.83 million pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2007 was 5.05 billion pounds, up slightly from 5.03 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.33 billion pounds, up slightly from May 2006. Mature chickens, at 71.1 million pounds, were down 2 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 641 million pounds, up 3 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 16.0 million pounds, down 6 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2007 averaged 5.52 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from May 2006. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.08 pounds per bird, down slightly from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2007 averaged 28.5 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from May 2006.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2007 totaled 16.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.32 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.33 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 47.3 million pounds, were 1.25 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.31 percent a year earlier.

May 2007 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays, while May 2006 had 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

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