US Poultry Ready-to-Cook Weight Down Slightly - 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 January 2005 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.30 billion pounds, down slightly from the amount certified in January 2004. Updated totals for December 2004 show that 3.33 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during January 2005 was 4.44 billion pounds, down slightly from 4.46 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.80 billion pounds, down 1 percent from January 2004, and mature chickens at 62.2 million pounds, were down 3 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 565 million pounds, up 2 percent, and ducks totaled 15.5 million pounds, up 6 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2005 averaged 5.34 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from January 2004. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.62 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2005 averaged 28.8 pounds per bird, up 5 percent from January 2004.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2005 totaled 21.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.48 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.45 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 50.5 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.26 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.13 percent a year earlier.

January 2005 contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays.
January 2004 contained 22 weekdays (including two holidays) and five 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 - 28th February 2005