WASHINGTON – Poultry ready-to-cook weight in October totaled 3.97 billion lbs., up 8 percent from the amount certified in October 2011, according to the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The September 2012 revised certified total of ready-to-cook weights declined 7 percent to 3.43 billion lbs. The September revision represented an increase of 19,000 lbs. from October's preliminary pounds certified, according to NASS.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during October 2012 was 5.24 billion lbs., up 8 percent from 4.87 billion lbs. a year ago, NASS said. Young chickens inspected gained 8 percent to total 4.44 billion lbs. Mature chickens, at 69.3 million lbs., were up 1 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections advanced 10 percent to total 724 million lbs. compared to a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.3 million lbs., up 2 percent from 2011.

Young chickens slaughtered during October 2012 averaged 5.95 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from October 2011. The average live weight of mature chickens also was up 1 percent to 5.80 lbs. per bird. Turkeys slaughtered during October 2012 averaged 29.0 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from October 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2012 totaled 10.2 million lbs. which was 0.19 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.20 percent in 2011, according to NASS. Post-mortem condemnations were at 34.9 million lbs. which was 0.87 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.87 percent a year earlier.