US broiler production up slightly in second quarter 2011

US broiler meat production estimates have been revised down for the remainder of 2011, even though numbers for the first half have been up from 2010.

US broiler meat production is expected to total 9.33 billion pounds in the second quarter of 2011, up 1.4% from 2010 numbers, but production is expected to be lower in the second half of 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
The broiler meat production estimate for the fourth quarter of 2011 was lowered by 25 million pounds to 9.4 billion pounds, while the estimate for the first quarter of 2012 was also lowered by 25 million pounds, to 9.36 billion pounds. The total for 2012 was reduced by 100 million pounds to 38.0 billion pounds. Broiler stocks are up 16% so far from 2010, to 707 million pounds at the end of April, but are expected to decline in the second half of the year as gains in production slow and then become negative. Broiler shipments in April declined 7.6% from 2010 numbers, totaling 497 million pounds.
Turkey meat production in April was 456 million pounds, up slightly from the same time in 2010. The number of birds slaughtered was 19.1 million, down about 0.5% from 2010, but this was offset by a 1% increase in the average weight at slaughter to 30 pounds. Turkey shipments rose 23% from 2010 numbers, totaling 52.8 million pounds.