Ready-to-cook weight down nine per cent from last year

Poultry certified wholesome during May 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.39 billion pounds, down 9 per cent from the amount certified in May 2008. The April 2009 revised certified total at 3.53 billion pounds, was down seven per cent from April 2008. The April revision represented an increase of 2.77 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2009 was 4.51 billion pounds, down 10 per cent from 5.02 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.87 billion pounds, down nine per cent from May 2008. Mature chickens, at 65.1 million pounds, were down 18 per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 564 million pounds, down 14 per cent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 12.4 million pounds, down one per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2009 averaged 5.59 pounds per bird, down slightly from May 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.62 pounds per bird, down three per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2009 averaged 28.8 pounds per bird, down one per cent from May 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2009 totaled 10.8 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.24 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 35.4 million pounds, were 1.03 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.17 per cent a year earlier.

May 2009 contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays, while May 2008 had 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays.

Further Reading

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