Poultry certified wholesome during March 2008 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.51 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the amount certified in March 2007. The February 2008 revised certified total at 3.47 billion pounds, was up10 percent from February 2007. The February revision represented an increase of 19.0 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during March 2008 was 4.73 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 4.67 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.03 billion pounds, up 1 percent from March 2007. Mature chickens, at 72.4 million pounds, were up 14 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 613 million pounds, up slightly from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.9 million pounds, down 13 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during March 2008 averaged 5.56 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from March 2007. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.66 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during March 2008 averaged 29.4 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from March 2007.

Ante-mortem condemnations during March 2008 totaled 15.5 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 48.9 million pounds, were 1.37 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.37 percent a year earlier.

Further Reading

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