Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 12/26/11

The average live weight of mature chickens slaughtered during November 2011 was 5.71 pounds per bird, down 8 percent from a year ago, according to USDA’s latest Poultry Slaughter report.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2011 averaged 5.82 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from November 2010. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2011 averaged 28.0 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from November 2010.

Poultry certified wholesome during November 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.47 billion pounds, down 6 percent from the amount certified in November 2010.

The October 2011 revised certified total at 3.68 billion pounds, was down 2 percent from October 2010. The October revision represented an increase of 6.92 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during November 2011 was 4.59 billion pounds, down 6 percent from 4.90 billion pounds a year ago.

Young chickens inspected totaled 3.88 billion pounds, down 7 percent from November 2010. Mature chickens, at 62.5 million pounds, were down 1 percent from the previous year.

Turkey inspections totaled 641 million pounds, down 1 percent from a year ago.

Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2011 totaled 9.71 million pounds.

Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.22 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 31.8 million pounds, were 0.91 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.96 percent a year earlier.

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