RTC Weight Down Eight Per Cent from Last Year

US - The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) comments on the drop in poultry ready-to-cook (RTC) weights in their monthly Poultry Slaughter Report.
calendar icon 30 March 2009
clock icon 3 minute read

Poultry certified wholesome during February 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.19 billion pounds, down 8 per cent from the amount certified in February 2008. The January 2009 revised certified total at 3.39 billion pounds, was down 12 per cent from January 2008. The January revision represented an increase of 523 thousand pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during February 2009 was 4.27 billion pounds, down 9 per cent from 4.68 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.64 billion pounds, down 8 per cent from February 2008. Mature chickens, at 59.4 million pounds, were down 15 per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 558 million pounds, down 12 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 11.2 million pounds, down 17 per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2009 averaged 5.54 pounds per bird, up slightly from February 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.85 pounds per bird, down 1 per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2009 averaged 29.6 pounds per bird, down 1 per cent from February 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2009 totaled 12.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.29 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.36 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.7 million pounds, were 1.20 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.35 per cent a year earlier.

February 2009 contained 20 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays, while February 2008 had 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

Special Note

This release introduces a new format to the Poultry Slaughter report. The tables on pages 7, 8, 10, and 11 have been changed to be more consistent with the Livestock Slaughter report. This change further aligns NASS reports while providing consistent data.

Further Reading

- You can view the full report by clicking here.
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