Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 5 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 January 2006 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.55 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the amount certified in January 2005. Updated totals for December 2005 show that 3.41 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during January 2006 was 4.75 billion pounds, up 5 percent from 4.52 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.09 billion pounds, up 6 percent from January 2005, and mature chickens, at 70.1 million pounds, were up 12 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 566 million pounds, down 2 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 15.9 million pounds, up 2 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2006 averaged 5.50 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from January 2005. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.58 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2006 averaged 30.3 pounds per bird, 2 percent above January 2005.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2006 totaled 15.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.38 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 49.3 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.15 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.20 percent a year earlier.

January 2006 contained 22 weekdays (including two holidays) and four Saturdays.
January 2005 contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays.

Young Chickens: Live Weight Slaughtered, By Month, 2003-2006

Young Turkeys: Live Weight Slaughtered, By Month, 2003-2006

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

Source: USDA NASS - Poultry Slaughter - 28th February 2006