Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 6 Percent From Last Year - 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 May 2006 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.76 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the amount certified in May 2005. Totals for April 2006 were unchanged with 3.31 billion pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2006 was 5.03 billion pounds, up 6 percent from 4.73 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.32 billion pounds, up 6 percent from May 2005. Mature chickens, at 72.3 million pounds, were down slightly from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 625 million pounds, an increase of 7 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 17.1 million pounds, up 10 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2006 averaged 5.49 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from May 2005. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.11 pounds per bird, up 9 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2006 averaged 28.6 pounds per bird, 1 percent above May 2005.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2006 totaled 16.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.32 a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 49.9 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.10 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.14 percent a year earlier.

May 2006 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays, while May 2005 had 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and four 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, 20 pages)

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