Poultry certified wholesome during May 2010 RTC weight totalled 3.50 billion pounds, up three per cent from the amount certified in May 2009. The April 2010 revised certified total at 3.54 billion pounds, was up one per cent from April 2009. The April revision represented an increase of 7.2 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2010 was 4.65 billion pounds, up three per cent from 4.51 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.03 billion pounds, up four per cent from May 2009. Mature chickens, at 64.4 million pounds, were down one per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 546 million pounds, down three per cent from a year ago. Ducks totalled 12.7 million pounds, up two per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 5.71 pounds per bird, up two per cent from May 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.58 pounds per bird, down one per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 29.7 pounds per bird, up three per cent from May 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2010 totalled 10.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.24 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.2 million pounds, were 0.94 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.03 per cent a year earlier.

Both May 2009 and May 2010 contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays.

Further Reading

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