The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 2010 was 4.65 billion lbs., up 3% from 4.51 billion lbs. a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.03 billion lbs., up 4% from May 2009.
Totaling 64.4 million lbs., mature chickens were down 1% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 546 million lbs., down 3% from a year ago. Ducks totaled 12.7 million lbs., up 2% from last year.
During May, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.71 lbs. per bird, up 2% from May 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.58 lbs. per bird, down 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 2010 averaged 29.7 lbs. per bird, up 3% from May 2009.
Ante-mortem condemnations during May 2010 totaled 10.3 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.24% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 33.2 million lbs., were 0.94% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.03% one year earlier.