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

Poultry certified wholesome during December 2004 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.33 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the amount certified in December 2003. Updated totals for November 2004 show that 3.33 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during December 2004 was 4.47 billion pounds, up 2 percent from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.83 billion pounds, up 2 percent from December 2003, and mature chickens at 68.9 million pounds, were up 8 percent from the previous year.

Turkey inspections totaled 552 million pounds, down 1 percent, and ducks totaled 16.2 million pounds, up 7 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2004 averaged 5.30 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from December 2003. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.62 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2004 averaged 27.7 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from December 2003.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2004 totaled 21.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.47 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.38 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 51.5 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.28 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.11 percent a year earlier.

December 2004 contained 23 weekdays (including two holidays) and four Saturdays.
December 2003 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.

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 - 31st January 2005