Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 2 Percent from Last Year
Poultry certified wholesome during November 2013 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.49 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the amount certified in November 2012. The October 2013 revised certified total at 4.05 billion pounds, was up 2 pecent from October 2012. The October revision represented an increase of 1.6 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during November 2013 was 4.60 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 4.73 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.94 billion pounds, down 2 percent from November 2012. Mature chickens, at 55.7 million pounds, were down 7 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 597 million pounds, down 7 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 12.9 million pounds, down 8 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during November 2013 averaged 6.01 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from November 2012. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.19 pounds per bird, up 8 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2013 averaged 28.6 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from November 2012.
Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2013 totaled 9.67 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.20 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.8 million pounds, were 0.96 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.92 percent a year earlier.
