WASHINGTON – During February, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.48 billion lbs., down slightly from the amount certified in February 2014, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture. The January 2015 revised certified total at 3.87 billion lbs., increased 5 percent from January 2014. This revision represented an increase of 941,000 lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

Meanwhile, the preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry last month totaled 4.59 billion lbs., down from 4.60 billion lbs. from one year earlier. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.97 billion lbs., down 1 percent from February 2014. Totaling 64.7 million lbs., mature chickens increased 2 percent from the previous year.


Turkey inspections totaled 542 million lbs., up 3 percent from one year ago, while ducks totaled 14.4 million lbs., up 3 percent from last year.

During February 2015, young chickens slaughtered averaged 6.09 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from February 2014. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.67 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2015 averaged 31.3 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from February 2014.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2015 totaled 12.4 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.27 percent of the live-weight inspected versus 0.24 percent one year earlier. Totaling 38.9 million lbs., post-mortem condemnations were 1.11 percent of quantities inspected versus1.04 percent a year ago.