WASHINGTON – US poultry certified wholesome during July 2011 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.51 billion lbs., down 2 percent from the amount certified in July 2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture. The June 2011 revised certified total at 3.86 billion lbs., was up 5 percent from June 2010. The June revision represented an increase of 1.47 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

During July, the preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry totaled 4.66 billion lbs., down 2 percent from 4.75 billion lbs. one year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.01 billion lbs., down 2 percent from July 2010. Totaling 72.9 million lbs., mature chickens were up 2 percent from the previous year.


Turkey inspections totaled 563 million lbs., down 3 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 11.9 million lbs., down 9 percent from last year.

During July, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.76 lbs. per bird, up 3 percent from July 2010. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during July averaged 29.1 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from July 2010.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July totaled 11.3 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.24 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30 percent one year earlier. Totaling 32.8 million lbs., post-mortem condemnations were 0.93 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.91 percent one year earlier.