US Poultry Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 1 Percent - US - The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) comment on the poultry weights and slaughter levels in their monthly Poultry Slaughter Report.

Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 1 Percent

Poultry certified wholesome during February 2004 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 2.88 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in February 2003. Updated totals for January 2004 show that 3.32 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during February 2004 was 3.91 billion pounds, down slightly from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.35 billion pounds, up 2 percent from February 2003, mature chickens at 49.7 million pounds, were down 24 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 495 million pounds, down 10 percent, and ducks totaled 13.1 million pounds, up 1 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2004 averaged 5.13 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from February 2003. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.56 pounds per bird, up 4 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2004 averaged 26.8 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from February 2003.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2004 totaled 17.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.45 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.43 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 52.0 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.48 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.21 percent a year earlier.

February 2004 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. The same as February 2003.

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

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

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

Source: USDA NASS - Poultry Slaughter - 5th April 2004