Poultry certified wholesome during February 2011 (ready-to-cook weight)
totaled 3.33 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the amount certified in
February 2010. The January 2011 revised certified total at
3.64 billion pounds, was up 10 percent from January 2010. The January
revision represented an increase of 2.66 million pounds from last month's
preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during
February 2011 was 4.42 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 4.27 billion pounds
a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.80 billion pounds, up
4 percent from February 2010. Mature chickens, at 61.1 million pounds, were
up 9 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled
549 million pounds, up 3 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled
12.6 million pounds, up 3 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during February 2011 averaged 5.76 pounds per
bird, up 2 percent from February 2010. The average live weight of mature
chickens was 5.56 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys
slaughtered during February 2011 averaged 30.5 pounds per bird, up 1 percent
from February 2010.
Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2011 totaled 11.6 million pounds.
Condemnations were 0.26 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared
with 0.29 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at
36.7 million pounds, were 1.09 percent of quantities inspected, as compared
with 1.03 percent a year earlier.