WASHINGTON – Poultry certified wholesome during April 2013 totaled 3.75 billion lbs., an increase of 7 percent from the amount certified in April 2012, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The March 2013 revised certified total declined 2 percent to 3.52 billion lbs. The March revision represented an increase of 255,000 lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during April was 4.97 billion lbs., up 7 percent from 4.66 billion lbs. a year ago, NASS reported. Young chickens inspected climbed 7 percent to 4.25 billion lbs. Mature chickens, were up 10 percent to 72.3 million lbs. compared to the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 632 million lbs., up 6 percent from April 2012. Ducks increased 8 percent to 14.7 million lbs., NASS reported.

Young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.90 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from April 2012. The average live weight of mature chickens gained 3 percent to 5.19 lbs. per bird. Turkeys slaughtered averaged 30.9 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from April 2012.

April ante-mortem condemnations totaled 10.5 million lbs. Condemnations constituted 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.20 percent in 2012. Post-mortem condemnations were 1.01 percent of quantities inspected at 38.3 million lbs., compared to 0.94 percent a year earlier.