Poultry certified wholesome during August 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.74 billion pounds, down 3 percent from the amount certified in August 2013. The July 2014 revised certified total at 3.89 billion pounds, was up 1 percent from July 2013. The July revision represented an increase of 572 thousand pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during August 2014 was 4.94 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 5.08 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.24 billion pounds, down 3 percent from August 2013. Mature chickens, at 72.6 million pounds, were down 7 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 604 million pounds, down slightly from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.5 million pounds, up 4 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during August 2014 averaged 5.98 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from August 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.77 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during August 2014 averaged 30.0 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from August 2013.
Ante-mortem condemnations during August 2014 totaled 11.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.22 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 35.8 million pounds, were 0.95 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.88 percent a year earlier.
The full USDA Poultry Slaught Report can be read here. (.pdf)