Poultry certified wholesome during November 2008 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.22 billion pounds, down 11 per cent from the amount certified in November 2007. The October 2008 revised certified total at 3.92 billion pounds, was down 2 percent from October 2007. The October revision represented an increase of 1.49 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during November 2008 was 4.29 billion pounds, down 11 percent from 4.83 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.58 billion pounds, down 12 percent from November 2007. Mature chickens, at 61.6 million pounds, were down 5 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 637 million pounds, down 4 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 12.0 million pounds, down 24 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2008 averaged 5.61 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from November 2007. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.82 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2008 averaged 27.6 pounds per bird, down slightly from November 2007.

Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2008 totaled 11.6 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.27 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.1 million pounds, were 1.11 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.15 per cent a year earlier.

November 2008 contained 20 weekdays (including two holidays) and 5 Saturdays, while November 2007 had 22 weekdays (including two holidays) and 4 Saturdays.

Further Reading

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