US poultry certified wholesome up in July

U.S. poultry certified wholesome during July (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.68 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the amount certified in July 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. The June revised certified total came in at 3.67 billion pounds, down 5 percent from the June 2011 total.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during July was 4.87 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 4.68 billion pounds in 2011. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.17 billion pounds, up 3 percent from July 2011 numbers. Mature chickens, at 68.9 million pounds, were down 6 percent from 2011; turkey inspections totaled 621 million pounds, up 10 percent; and ducks totaled 12.4 million pounds, up 4 percent, according to the USDA.
Young chickens slaughtered during July averaged 5.76 pounds per bird, down slightly from July 2011 numbers. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.09 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from 2011, while turkeys slaughtered during July averaged 29.3 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from July 2011.

For more information and statistics on U.S. poultry, see www.wattagnet.com/marketdata.html.