WASHINGTON – Ready-to-cook poultry weight declined 1 percent during December 2012 to 3.34 billion lbs. compared to December 2011, according to the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The November 2012 revised certified total at 3.57 billion lbs., was up 3 percent from November 2011. The November revision represented an increase of 1.96 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified, NASS said.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during December 2012 declined 1 percent to 4.42 billion lbs. from 4.46 billion lbs. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.80 billion lbs., down slightly from December 2011. Mature chickens, at 59.1 million lbs., retreated 9 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections were down 4 percent to 550 million lbs., NASS reported. Ducks totaled 14.4 million lbs., down 5 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered in December 2012 averaged 5.91 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from December 2011, according to NASS. The average live weight of mature chickens fell 9 percent to 5.07 lbs. Turkeys slaughtered during December 2012 averaged 30.8 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from December 2011.

Ante-mortem condemnations during December 2012 totaled 9.35 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.21 percent in 2011, NASS said. Post-mortem condemnations, at 32.1 million lbs., were 0.95 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.95 percent a year ago.