Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 2 Percent - US - The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) comment on the higher poultry weights and slaughter levels in their monthly Poultry Slaughter Report.

Poultry certified wholesome during October 2003 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.62 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the amount certified in October 2002. Updated totals for September 2003 show that 3.33 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during October 2003 was 4.85 billion pounds, up 2 percent from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.10 billion pounds, up 2 percent from October 2002, mature chickens at 70.7 million pounds, were down 15 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 669 million pounds, down slightly, and ducks totaled 15.2 million pounds, up 6 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2003 averaged 5.27 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from October 2002. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.75 pounds per bird, up 6 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2003 averaged 26.4 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from October 2002.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2003 totaled 16.9 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.35 percent of the live weight inspected, unchanged from a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 46.4 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.06 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.12 percent a year earlier.

October 2003 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. The same as October 2002.

To view the full report, including tables, please click here (PDF format, 21 pages)

Source: USDA NASS - Poultry Slaughter - 5th December 2003