WASHINGTON – Ready-to-cook poultry weight in February 2012 totaled 3.47 billion lbs., an increase of 4 percent from the amount certified in February 2011, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture.

The January 2012 revised certified total eased 1 percent to 3.62 billion lbs. compared to January 2011. NASS said the January revision represented an increase of 2.69 million pounds from February's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight advanced 4 percent to 4.60 billion lbs., up from 4.42 billion lbs. from the year-ago period. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.93 billion lbs., up 4 percent from February 2011. Mature chickens were down at 61.0 million lbs. Turkey inspections totaled 586 million lbs., an increase of 7 percent from 2011. Ducks totaled 13.5 million lbs., up 7 percent from 2011.

Weight of young chickens slaughtered increased 1 percent to an average of 5.82 lbs. per bird. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.52 lbs. per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 30.8 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from the year-ago period.

Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2012 totaled 9.56 million lbs., according to NASS. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.26 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.4 million lbs., were 0.98 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.09 percent in 2011.