Poultry certified wholesome during June 2003 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.25 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the amount certified in June 2002. Updated totals for May 2003 show that 3.31 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during June 2003 was 4.38 billion pounds, up 5 percent from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.69 billion pounds, up 5 percent from June 2002, and mature chickens at 72.6 million pounds, were down 1 percent from the previous year.

Turkey inspections totaled 608 million pounds, up 6 percent, and ducks totaled 12.2 million pounds, up 4 percent.

Young chickens slaughtered during June 2003 averaged 5.23 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from June 2002. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.70 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during June 2003 averaged 27.4 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from June 2002.

Ante-mortem condemnations during June 2003 totaled 17.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.40 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.46 percent a year earlier.

Post-mortem condemnations, at 45.2 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.15 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.16 percent a year earlier.

June 2003 contained 21 weekdays and four Saturdays.
June 2002 contained 20 weekdays and five Saturdays.

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Source: USDA NASS - Poultry Slaughter - 1st August 2003