Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 4/25/14
 
Young chickens under U.S. federal inspection in March totaled 4.11 billion pounds, up 3 percent from March 2013. Mature chickens, at 65.5 million pounds, were up 10 percent from the previous year, according to USDA’s monthly Poultry Slaughter report.

Young chickens slaughtered under federal inspection during March averaged 5.98 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from March 2013. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.57 pounds per bird, up 6 percent from a year ago.

Turkey
Turkey inspections totaled 572 million pounds, down 3 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.9 million pounds, up 1 percent from last year. Turkeys slaughtered during March 2014 averaged 31.1 pounds per bird, up slightly from March 2013.

All poultry
Poultry certified wholesome during March 2014 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.60 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the amount certified in March 2013.

The February 2014 revised certified total at 3.48 billion pounds was up 3 percent from February 2013. The February revision represented an increase of 364,000 pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during March 2014 was 4.77 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 4.66 billion pounds a year ago.

March both this year and last year contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.

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