Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 7 Percent from Last Year

Poultry certified wholesome during July 2007 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.60 billion pounds, up 7 percent from the amount certified in July 2006. The June 2007 revised certified total at 3.53 billion pounds, was down 4 percent from June 2006. The June revision represented an increase of 10.1 million pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during July 2007 was 4.86 billion pounds, up 8 percent from 4.51 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.14 billion pounds, up 7 percent from July 2006. Mature chickens, at 70.8 million pounds, were up 13 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 638 million pounds, up 10 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 15.4 million pounds, up 9 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during July 2007 averaged 5.47 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from July 2006. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.19 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during July 2007 averaged 28.2 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from July 2006.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2007 totaled 17.9 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.37 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.50 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 45.3 million pounds, were 1.24 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.25 percent a year earlier.

July 2007 contained 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays, while July 2006 had 21 weekdays and 5 Saturdays.

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