Poultry certified wholesome during August 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.52 billion pounds, down three per cent from the amount certified in August 2008. The July 2009 revised certified total at 3.64 billion pounds, was down five per cent from July 2008. The July revision represented an increase of 5.63 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during August 2009 was 4.70 billion pounds, down four per cent from 4.87 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.03 billion pounds, down three per cent from August 2008. Mature chickens, at 70.7 million pounds, were down seven per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 579 million pounds, down nine per cent from a year ago. Ducks totalled 12.3 million pounds, down two per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during August 2009 averaged 5.56 pounds per bird, down slightly from August 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.78 pounds per bird, down two per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during August 2009 averaged 28.2 pounds per bird, up slightly from August 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during August 2009 totalled 12.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.26 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.34 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.6 million pounds, were 0.97 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.07 per cent a year earlier.

Both August 2008 and August 2009 contained 21 weekdays and 5 Saturdays.

Further Reading

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