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

The January 2012 revised certified total at 3.62 billion lbs., declined 1 percent from January 2011, NASS reported. The January revision represented an increase of 2.69 million lbs. from preliminary pounds certified in 2011.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during February 2012 advanced 4 percent to 4.60 billion lbs. from 4.42 billion pounds in 2011, according to NASS. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.93 billion lbs., up 4 percent from February 2011. Mature chickens eased from the previous year to 61 million lbs., NASS said. Turkey inspections totaled 586 million lbs., up 7 percent from the comparable year-ago period. Ducks totaled 13.5 million lbs., up 7 percent from 2011.

Weights for young chickens slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 5.82 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from February 2011, NASS said. The average live weight of mature chickens declined 1 percent to 5.52 lbs. per bird compared to 2011. Turkeys slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 30.8 lbs. per bird, an increase of 1 percent from February 2011, according to NASS.

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