Poultry certified wholesome during March 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.52 billion pounds, down slightly from the amount certified in March 2008. The February 2009 revised certified total at 3.19 billion pounds, was down 8 per cent from February 2008. The February revision represented an increase of 634 thousand pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during March 2009 was 4.71 billion pounds, down 1 per cent from 4.74 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.03 billion pounds, down slightly from March 2008. Mature chickens, at 68.1 million pounds, were down 5 per cent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 592 million pounds, down 4 per cent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.3 million pounds, down 4 per cent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during March 2009 averaged 5.55 pounds per bird, down slightly from March 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.79 pounds per bird, up 2 per cent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during March 2009 averaged 29.4 pounds per bird, up slightly from March 2008.

Ante-mortem condemnations during March 2009 totaled 13.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.28 per cent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.33 per cent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 40.8 million pounds, were 1.15 per cent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.36 per cent a year earlier.

March 2009 contained 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays, while March 2008 had 21 weekdays and 5 Saturdays.

Further Reading

-

You can view the full report by clicking here.