Poultry certified wholesome during November 2006 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.44 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in November 2005. October 2006 revised certified total at 3.77 billion pounds, was up 5 percent from October 2005. The October revision represented an increase of 1.38 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during November 2006 was 4.65 billion pounds, up slightly from 4.64 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.93 billion pounds, down 1 percent from November 2005. Mature chickens, at 64.5 million pounds, were down 1 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 635 million pounds, up 5 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 15.8 million pounds, down 7 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2006 averaged 5.52 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from November 2005. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.34 pounds per bird, up 10 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2006 averaged 27.1 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from November 2005.

Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2006 totaled 15.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.33 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 43.2 million pounds, were 1.24 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.26 percent a year earlier.

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