Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 1 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 January 2004 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.33 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the amount certified in January 2003. Updated totals for December 2003 show that 3.25 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during January 2004 was 4.49 billion pounds, up 1 percent from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.85 billion pounds, up 2 percent from January 2003, mature chickens at 64.1 million pounds, were down 15 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 555 million pounds, down 9 percent, and ducks totaled 14.6 million pounds, up 2 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2004 averaged 5.31 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from January 2003. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.66 pounds per bird, up 8 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2004 averaged 27.6 pounds per bird, down 2 percent from January 2003.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2004 totaled 20.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.45 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.51 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 45.4 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.12 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.28 percent a year earlier.

January 2004 contained 22 weekdays (including two holidays) and five Saturdays.
January 2003 contained 23 weekdays (including two holidays) and four Saturdays.

Young Chickens: Live Weight Slaughtered, By Month, 2001-2004

Young Turkeys: Live Weight Slaughtered, By Month, 2000-2003

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

Source: USDA NASS - Poultry Slaughter - 8th March 2004