Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 6 Percent

Poultry certified wholesome during December 2003 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.22 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the amount certified in December 2002. Updated totals for November 2003 show that 2.92 billion pounds were certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during December 2003 was 4.34 billion pounds, up 5 percent from a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.71 billion pounds, up 8 percent from December 2002, mature chickens at 63.5 million pounds, were down 10 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 554 million pounds, down 6 percent, and ducks totaled 15.1 million pounds, up 9 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during December 2003 averaged 5.25 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from December 2002. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.56 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2003 averaged 26.9 pounds per bird, down 2 percent from December 2002.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2003 totaled 16.5 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.38 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.46 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 43.7 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.12 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.21 percent a year earlier.

December 2003 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.
December 2002 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.

Young Chickens: Live Weight Slaughtered, By Month, 2000-2003

Young Turkeys: Live Weight Slaughtered, By Month, 2000-2003