US poultry certified wholesome down in June

U.S. poultry certified wholesome during June (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.67 billion pounds, down 5 percent from the amount certified in June 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. The May revised certified total, at 3.86 billion pounds, was up 1 percent from May 2011 and represented an increase of 214,000 pounds from the preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during June was 4.86 billion pounds, down 5 percent from 5.11 billion pounds in 2011. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.14 billion pounds, down 5 percent from June 2011 numbers. Mature chickens, at 75.9 million pounds, were down 4 percent from the same time in 2011. Turkey inspections totaled 634 million pounds, down 3 percent, and ducks totaled 13.3 million pounds, down 6 percent.
Young chickens slaughtered during June averaged 5.86 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from June 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.73 pounds per bird, down 5 percent. Turkeys slaughtered during June averaged 30 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from June 2011, according to the USDA.
For more poultry information and statistics, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.