Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 1 Percent from Last Year
Poultry certified wholesome during November 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.46 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in November 2013. The October 2014 revised certified total at 4.15 billion pounds, was up 2 percent from October 2013. The October revision represented an increase of 1.52 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during November 2014 was 4.58 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 4.61 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.91 billion pounds, down 1 percent from November 2013. Mature chickens, at 56.0 million pounds, were up 1 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 597 million pounds, down slightly from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.1 million pounds, up 9 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during November 2014 averaged 6.07 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from November 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.17 pounds per bird, down slightly from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2014 averaged 28.7 pounds per bird, up slightly from November 2013.
Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2014 totaled 10.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.23 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.21 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 36.0 million pounds, were 1.03 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.96 percent a year earlier.
Source: USDA