The May 2013 revised certified total, at 3.83 billion lbs., slipped 1 percent from May 2012. The May revision represented a decrease of 875,000 lbs. from the previous month's preliminary pounds certified, NASS reported.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during June 2013 fell 4 percent to 4.67 billion lbs. from 4.86 billion lbs. a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.00 billion lbs., down 3 percent from June 2012, according to NASS. Mature chickens dropped 12 percent to 66.5 million lbs. Turkey inspections declined 7 percent to 592 million lbs. Ducks totaled 12.6 million lbs., down 5 percent compared to a year ago.
Young chickens slaughtered during June 2013 averaged 5.89 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from June 2012. The average live weight of mature chickens also climbed 1 percent to 5.81 lbs. per bird. Turkeys slaughtered during June 2013 averaged 30.1 lbs. per bird, a slight increase from June 2012, NASS reported.
Ante-mortem condemnations during June 2013 totaled 9.66 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.22 percent a year ago. Post-mortem condemnations, at 31.4 million lbs., were 0.88 percent of quantities inspected compared to 0.89 percent a year earlier.
