Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 4/26/16

Poultry certified wholesome during March 2016 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 4.09 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the amount certified in March 2015, USDA estimated in its monthly Poultry Slaughter report.

March 2015 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays. March 2016 contained 23 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.

The February 2016 revised certified total at 3.77 billion pounds, was up 8 percent from February 2015. The February revision represented an increase of 4.25 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during March 2016 was 5.40 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 5.22 billion pounds a year ago.

Young chickens inspected totaled a record 4.68 billion pounds, up 4 percent from March 2015. Mature chickens, at 77.1 million pounds, were up 12 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 628 million pounds, up slightly from a year ago. Ducks totaled 16.5 million pounds, down 1 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during March 2016 averaged 6.16 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from March 2015. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.90 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during March 2016 averaged 31.3 pounds per bird, up slightly from March 2015.

Ante-mortem condemnations during March 2016 totaled 12.9 million pounds.

Condemnations were 0.24 percent of the live weight inspected, unchanged from last a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 43.8 million pounds, were 1.06 percent of quantities inspected, also unchanged from a year earlier.

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