US Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 6 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 February 2005 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.08 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the amount certified in February 2004. Updated totals for January 2005 show that 3.30 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during February 2005 was 4.15 billion pounds, up 6 percent from 3.93 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.57 billion pounds, up 7 percent from February 2004, and mature chickens at 60.7 million pounds, were up 14 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 507 million pounds, down 2 percent, and ducks totaled 13.6 million pounds, up 4 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during February 2005 averaged 5.28 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from February 2004. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.62 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2005 averaged 29.1 pounds per bird, up 4 percent from February 2004.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2005 totaled 21.9 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.53 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.44 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 47.6 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.28 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.38 percent a year earlier.

February 2005 contained 20 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays, the same as February 2004. February 2004 was a leap year with the 29th being a Sunday.

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 March 2005