Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 7/25/11

Poultry certified wholesome during June 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.86 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the amount certified in June 2010. The average weight of mature chickens, at 6.03 pounds, was up 5 percent from a year ago, according to USDA’s monthly Poultry Slaughter report.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during June 2011 was 5.11 billion pounds, up 5 percent from 4.88 billion pounds a year ago.

To read the report in its entirety, click here. 

Meanwhile, broiler-type chicks hatched during June 2011 totaled 768 million, down 2 percent from June 2010. Eggs in incubators totaled 622 million on July 1, 2011, down 5 percent from a year earlier.

The number of broiler-type pullet chicks hatched during June also declined, by 0.9 percent year-over-year. The 7.1 million hatchings were more or less in line with the 10-year average for June, noted equity analyst Ken Goldman, with JPMorgan, in a note to investors.

“That fewer pullets were not hatched perhaps is a modest negative to the broiler industry, which is looking forward to significant production cutbacks,” he wrote.

To read the chicken and eggs report in its entirety, click here. 

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