WASHINGTON — During January, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.30 billion lbs., down 3% from the amount certified in January 2009, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The December 2009 revised certified total at 3.47 billion lbs., was down slightly from December 2008. The December revision represented an increase of 15.7 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.


During January, the preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected was 4.40 billion lbs., down 3% from 4.53 billion lbs. one year earlier. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.79 billion lbs., down 2% from January 2009. Totaling 60.2 million lbs., mature chickens were down 3% from the previous year.

Turkey inspections totaled 533 million lbs., down 10% from a year ago. Ducks totaled 12.4 million lbs., a drop of 4% from last year.

During January, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.64 lbs. per bird, up 1% from January 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.43 lbs. per bird, down 4% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered in January averaged 30.6 lbs. per bird, up slightly from January 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January totaled 13.2 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.30% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.33% one year earlier. At 34.4 million lbs., post-mortem condemnations were 1.03% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.20% a year earlier.