Ready-to-cook weight down seven per cent from last year

Poultry certified wholesome during April 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.52 billion pounds, down seven per cent from the amount certified in April 2008. The March 2009 revised certified total at 3.52 billion pounds, was down slightly from March 2008. The March revision represented an increase of 2.83 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April 2009 was 4.70 billion pounds, down seven per cent from 5.06 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.02 billion pounds, down seven per cent from April 2008. Mature chickens, at 69.9 million pounds, were down nine per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 595 million pounds, down nine per cent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 12.8 million pounds, down eight per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during April 2009 averaged 5.57 pounds per bird, down slightly from April 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.80 pounds per bird, up two per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2009 averaged 29.3 pounds per bird, down slightly from April 2008. Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2009 totaled 12.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.26 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.0 million pounds, were 1.07 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.25 per cent a year earlier.

April 2008 and April 2009 contained 22 weekdays and four Saturdays.

Further Reading

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