WASHINGTON – US poultry certified wholesome during September 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.71 billion lbs., down 1 percent from the amount certified in September 2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture. The August 2011 revised certified total at 3.90 billion lbs., was up 4 percent from August 2010. The August revision represented an increase of 57.4 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

During September, the preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry was 4.92 billion lbs., down 2 percent from 5.00 billion lbs. a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.24 billion lbs., down 2 percent from September 2010. Mature chickens, at 73.8 million lbs., were up 2 percent from the previous year.


Turkey inspections totaled 594 million lbs., up 2 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.1 million lbs., down 9 percent from last year.

During September, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.86 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from September 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.78 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered averaged 29.1 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from September 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during September totaled 10.1 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.23 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.1 million lbs., were 0.91 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.90 percent one year earlier.