Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/26/10

Poultry certified wholesome during July 2010 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.55 billion pounds, down 3 percent from the amount certified in July 2009, according to USDA’s poultry slaughter report.

The agency revised its June 2010 estimate of certified poultry to 3.68 billion pounds, up 13.7 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified, and up 2 percent from June 2009.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during July 2010 was 4.71 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 4.84 billion pounds a year ago.  Young chickens inspected totaled 4.04 billion pounds, down 2 percent from July 2009.  Mature chickens, at 71.7 million pounds, were down 5 percent from the previous year.  Turkey inspections totaled 583 million pounds, down 5 percent from a year ago

Young chickens slaughtered during July 2010 averaged 5.57 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from July 2009.  The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.91 pounds per bird, up slightly from a year ago.  Turkeys slaughtered during July 2010 averaged 28.6 pounds per bird, up slightly from July 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2010 totaled 14.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.30 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.26 percent a year earlier.  Post-mortem condemnations, at 32.5 million pounds, were 0.91 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1 percent a year earlier.

July 2010 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays, while July 2009 had 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays.

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