Poultry certified wholesome during January 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.64 billion pounds, up 10 per cent from the amount certified in January 2010. The December 2010 revised certified total at 3.69 billion pounds, was up 6 per cent from December 2009. The December revision represented an increase of 5.7 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during January 2011 was 4.83 billion pounds, up 10 per cent from 4.40 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.17 billion pounds, up 10 per cent from January 2010. Mature chickens, at 63.9 million pounds, were up 5 per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 581 million pounds, up 9 per cent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.4 million pounds, up 16 per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2011 averaged 5.85 pounds per bird, up 4 per cent from January 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.51 pounds per bird, up 1 per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2011 averaged 30.8 pounds per bird, up 1 per cent from January 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2011 totaled 13.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.27 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.2 million pounds, were 1.04 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.03 per cent a year earlier.

January 2010 and 2011 both contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and 5 Saturdays.

Further Reading

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