Poultry certified wholesome during April 2008 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.76 billion pounds, up 11 percent from the amount certified in April 2007.

The March 2008 revised certified total at 3.51 billion pounds, was up 1 percent from March 2007. The March revision represented an increase of 1.51 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April 2008 was 5.04 billion pounds, up 10 percent from 4.59 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.30 billion pounds, up 9 percent from April 2007. Mature chickens, at 76.7 million pounds, were up 24 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 654 million pounds, up 12 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.0 million pounds, down 8 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during April 2008 averaged 5.59 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from April 2007. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.67 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2008 averaged 29.4 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from April 2007.

Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2008 totaled 15.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.31 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.32 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 47.5 million pounds, were 1.25 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.32 percent a year earlier.

April 2008 contained 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays, while April 2007 had 21 weekdays and 4 Saturdays.

Further Reading

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