WASHINGTON – For January, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.64 billion lbs., up 10% from the amount certified in January 2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture.

Totaling 3.69 billion lbs., he December 2010 revised certified total was up 6% from December 2009. The December revision represented an increase of 5.7 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.


The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during January 2011 was 4.83 billion lbs., up 10% from 4.40 billion lbs. one year ago.

Young chickens inspected totaled 4.17 billion lbs. up 10% from January 2010. Mature chickens, at 63.9 million lbs., were up 5% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 581 million lbs., up 9% from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.4 million lbs., up 16% from last year.

During January 2011, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.85 lbs. per bird, up 4% from January 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.51 lbs. per bird, up 1% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2011 averaged 30.8 lbs. per bird, up 1% from January 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2011 totaled 13.0 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.27% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 38.2 million lbs., were 1.04% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.03% a year earlier.