US poultry ready-to-cook weights up in November over 2011

U.S. poultry certified wholesome during November (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.57 billion pounds, up 3 percent from the amount certified in November 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
The October revised certified total, at 3.97 billion pounds, was up 8 percent from October 2011. The October revision represented an increase of 198,000 pounds from the preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during November was 4.73 billion pounds, up 3 percent from 4.6 billion pounds in 2011, according to the USDA. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.01 billion pounds, up 3 percent from November 2011. Mature chickens, at 59.3 million pounds, were down 5 percent from 2011 numbers. Turkey inspections totaled 642 million pounds, up slightly from 2011, and ducks totaled 14.1 million pounds, down 1 percent.
Young chickens slaughtered during November averaged 5.95 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from November 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.73 pounds per bird, up slightly from 2011 numbers, according to the USDA, and turkeys slaughtered averaged 28.9 pounds per bird, up 3 percent.

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