Poultry certified wholesome during October 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.63 billion pounds, down seven per cent from the amount certified in October 2008. The September 2009 revised certified total at 3.59 billion pounds, was down four per cent from September 2008. The September revision represented an increase of 829,000 pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during October 2009 was 4.82 billion pounds, down eight per cent from 5.23 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.10 billion pounds, down seven per cent from October 2008. Mature chickens, at 69.7 million pounds, were down 13 per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 635 million pounds, down 13 per cent from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.0 million pounds, down seven per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2009 averaged 5.67 pounds per bird, up slightly from October 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.84 pounds per bird, unchanged from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2009 averaged 28.4 pounds per bird, down two per cent from October 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2009 totalled 10.8 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.26 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.7 million pounds, were 0.95 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.07 per cent a year earlier.

October 2009 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays, while October 2008 had 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.

Further Reading

-

You can view the full report by clicking here.