Poultry certified wholesome during September 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totalled 3.71 billion pounds, down one per cent from the amount certified in September 2010. The August 2011 revised certified total at 3.90 billion pounds, was up four per cent from August 2010. The August revision represented an increase of 57.4 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during September 2011 was 4.92 billion pounds, down two per cent from 5.00 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totalled 4.24 billion pounds, down two per cent from September 2010. Mature chickens, at 73.8 million pounds, were up two per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totalled 594 million pounds, uptwo per cent from a year ago. Ducks totalled 13.1 million pounds, down nine per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 5.86 pounds per bird, up two percent from September 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.78 pounds per bird, up one per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during September 2011 averaged 29.1 pounds per bird, up two per cent from September 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during September 2011 totalled 10.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.23 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.1 million pounds, were 0.91 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.90 per cent a year earlier.

Both September 2010 and September 2011 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.

Further Reading

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