Poultry Slaughter - Monthly

Poultry
Slaughter
Washington, D.C.

Released May 26, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture. For information on Poultry Slaughter call Troy Marshall at 202-690-3237, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 7 Percent from Last Year
Poultry certified wholesome during April 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.52 billion pounds, down
7 percent from the amount certified in April 2008. The March 2009 revised certified total at
3.52 billion pounds, was down slightly from March 2008. The March revision represented an increase of
2.83 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April 2009 was 4.70 billion pounds, down
7 percent from 5.06 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.02 billion pounds, down
7 percent from April 2008. Mature chickens, at 69.9 million pounds, were down 9 percent from the previous
year. Turkey inspections totaled 595 million pounds, down 9 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled
12.8 million pounds, down 8 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during April 2009 averaged 5.57 pounds per bird, down slightly from
April 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.80 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from a year
ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 2009 averaged 29.3 pounds per bird, down slightly from April 2008.
Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2009 totaled 12.1 million pounds. Condemnations were
0.26 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.30 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem
condemnations, at 38.0 million pounds, were 1.07 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with
1.25 percent a year earlier.
April 2009 contained 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays, while April 2008 had 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays.

Pou 2-1 (5-09)

Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type,
United States, April, 2008-2009 1
Commodity

Number Slaughtered
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total
Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Ducks

Live Weight
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total
Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Ducks
Other Poultry 2
Total Poultry

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

Apr
2009

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Ducks
1
2

Percent
of
2008

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

2008

2009

Pct

Pct

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

Pct

771,921
13,536
6,576
6,960
785,457

727,605
11,769
5,168
6,601
739,374

721,352
12,048
5,296
6,752
733,400

93
89
81
97
93

99
102
102
102
99

3,002,029
51,027
24,584
26,443
3,053,056

2,800,933
45,007
20,161
24,846
2,845,940

93
88
82
94
93

22,041
213
22,254

19,925
187
20,112

20,167
130
20,297

91
61
91

101
70
101

86,541
630
87,171

78,078
636
78,714

90
101
90

2,072

1,982

1,880

91

95

8,273

7,512

91

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

4,318,116
76,741
21,482
55,259
4,394,857

4,038,057
68,120
16,658
51,462
4,106,177

4,020,639
69,865
17,032
52,833
4,090,504

93
91
79
96
93

100
103
102
103
100

16,700,154
291,461
80,472
210,989
16,991,615

15,565,348
259,521
65,132
194,389
15,824,869

93
89
81
92
93

647,166
5,796
652,962

587,139
4,852
591,991

591,652
3,608
595,260

91
62
91

101
74
101

2,574,980
16,769
2,591,749

2,322,005
17,329
2,339,334

90
103
90

13,985

13,312

12,811

92

96

56,032

50,356

90

166

137

157

95

115

645

575

89

5,061,970

4,711,617

4,698,732

93

100

19,640,041

18,215,134

93

Pounds

Average Live Weight
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

January
to Date

Percent of

Pounds

Pounds

Pct

Pct

Pct

Pct

1,000 Pounds

Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Pounds

Pct

Pct

5.59
5.67
3.27
7.94
5.60

5.55
5.79
3.22
7.80
5.55

5.57
5.80
3.22
7.82
5.58

100
102
98
98
100

100
100
100
100
101

5.56
5.71
3.27
7.98
5.57

5.56
5.77
3.23
7.82
5.56

100
101
99
98
100

29.36
27.21
29.34

29.47
25.95
29.43

29.34
27.75
29.33

100
102
100

100
107
100

29.75
26.62
29.73

29.74
27.25
29.72

100
102
100

6.75

6.72

6.81

101

101

6.77

6.70

99

Federally inspected only.
Includes geese, guineas, ostriches, emus, rheas, and squab.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

2

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
United States, April, 2008-2009 1
January
to Date

Percent of

Percent
of
2008

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

Apr
2009

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

2,897,726
46,900
10,375
36,525
2,944,626

2,726,357
42,185
8,385
33,800
2,768,542

2,713,598
43,615
8,599
35,016
2,757,213

94
93
83
96
94

100
103
103
104
100

11,185,308
177,233
38,671
138,562
11,362,541

10,512,597
160,590
32,738
127,852
10,673,187

94
91
85
92
94

305,992
3,074
309,066

299,020
3,310
302,330

299,793
2,393
302,186

98
78
98

100
72
100

1,207,581
9,913
1,217,494

1,164,433
10,107
1,174,540

96
102
96

4,427

3,139

3,079

70

98

18,640

12,367

66

89

71

75

84

106

336

287

85

3,258,208

3,074,082

3,062,553

94

100

12,599,011

11,860,381

94

Frozen
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

298,832
1,132
903
229
299,964

272,276
329

94
15

103
52

329
272,605

281,354
170
1
169
281,524

74
94

51
103

1,156,633
5,315
4,096
1,219
1,161,948

1,055,944
1,117
113
1,004
1,057,061

91
21
3
82
91

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total

208,845
1,292
210,137

168,697
404
169,101

172,450
353
172,803

83
27
82

102
87
102

835,297
2,663
837,960

682,638
3,137
685,775

82
118
82

5,601

6,379

5,990

107

94

21,519

23,550

109

24

25

26

108

104

101

93

92

515,726

448,110

460,343

89

103

2,021,528

1,766,479

87

3,196,558
48,032
11,278
36,754
3,244,590

2,998,633
42,514
8,385
34,129
3,041,147

2,994,952
43,785
8,600
35,185
3,038,737

94
91
76
96
94

100
103
103
103
100

12,341,941
182,548
42,767
139,781
12,524,489

11,568,541
161,707
32,851
128,856
11,730,248

94
89
77
92
94

514,837
4,366
519,203

467,717
3,714
471,431

472,243
2,746
474,989

92
63
91

101
74
101

2,042,878
12,576
2,055,454

1,847,071
13,244
1,860,315

90
105
91

10,028

9,518

9,069

90

95

40,159

35,917

89

113

96

101

89

105

437

380

87

3,773,934

3,522,192

3,522,896

93

100

14,620,539

13,626,860

93

Commodity

Chilled
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total
Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Ducks
Other Poultry 2
Total Poultry

Ducks
Other Poultry 2
Total Poultry
Chilled and Frozen
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total
Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Ducks
Other Poultry 2
Total Poultry
1
2

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

2008

2009

Pct

Pct

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Pct

Ready-to-cook weights.
Includes geese, guineas, and squab.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

3

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem Condemnations by Type,
United States, April, 2008-2009 1
Commodity

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

January
to Date

Percent of

Apr
2009

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

Percent

Percent

2008

2009

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds

Percent
of
2008
Percent

Live Weight
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

12,621
1,049
497
552
13,670

10,186
1,172
225
947
11,358

9,770
816
155
661
10,586

77
78
31
120
77

96
70
69
70
93

54,962
4,967
1,807
3,160
59,929

41,881
4,113
894
3,219
45,994

76
83
49
102
77

1,550
51
1,601

1,603
43
1,646

1,475
36
1,511

95
71
94

92
84
92

7,240
189
7,429

6,461
175
6,636

89
93
89

Ducks
Other Poultry

25
2

31

32

128

103

102
2

140

137

Total Poultry

15,298

13,035

12,129

79

93

67,462

52,770

78

Percent

Percent

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent of Live
Weight Condemned 2

1
2

Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

0.29
1.37
2.31
1.00
0.31

0.25
1.72
1.35
1.84
0.28

0.24
1.17
0.91
1.25
0.26

83
85
39
125
84

96
68
67
68
93

0.33
1.70
2.25
1.50
0.35

0.27
1.58
1.37
1.66
0.29

82
93
61
111
83

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total

0.24
0.88
0.25

0.27
0.89
0.28

0.25
1.00
0.25

104
114
100

93
112
89

0.28
1.13
0.29

0.28
1.01
0.28

100
89
97

Ducks
Other Poultry

0.18
1.20

0.23

0.25

139

109

0.18
0.31

0.28

156

Total Poultry

0.30

0.28

0.26

87

93

0.34

0.29

85

Federally inspected only.
Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

4

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Poultry Slaughter: Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type,
United States, April, 2008-2009 1
Commodity

Apr
2008

Mar
2009

Apr
2009

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds

January
to Date

Percent of
Apr
2008

Mar
2009

Percent

Percent

2008

2009

1,000 Pounds 1,000 Pounds

Percent
of
2008
Percent

Carcass and Parts
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

34,937
3,374
1,268
2,106
38,311

29,209
3,326
1,159
2,167
32,535

26,946
3,276
1,144
2,132
30,222

77
97
90
101
79

92
98
99
98
93

144,425
13,186
4,857
8,329
157,611

114,363
12,267
4,395
7,872
126,630

79
93
90
95
80

8,713
303
9,016

7,862
192
8,054

7,437
147
7,584

85
49
84

95
77
94

35,343
905
36,248

30,432
650
31,082

86
72
86

Ducks
Other Poultry

314
2

273
2

220
3

70
150

81
150

1,114
6

1,170
7

105
117

Total Poultry

47,643

40,864

38,029

80

93

194,979

158,889

81

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent

Percent of
Weight Condemned 2
Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

1
2

1.08
6.56
10.11
5.42
1.17

0.96
7.26
12.14
5.97
1.06

0.89
6.96
11.74
5.71
0.98

82
106
116
105
84

93
96
97
96
92

1.16
6.74
10.20
5.62
1.24

0.98
7.05
11.80
5.76
1.07

84
105
116
102
86

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total

1.66
6.49
1.71

1.65
4.92
1.68

1.55
5.08
1.57

93
78
92

94
103
93

1.70
6.71
1.73

1.62
4.68
1.64

95
70
95

Ducks
Other Poultry

3.04
1.74

2.79
2.04

2.37
2.88

78
166

85
141

2.70
1.35

3.15
1.81

117
134

Total Poultry

1.25

1.15

1.07

86

93

1.32

1.15

87

Federally inspected only.
Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

5

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Commodity

Poultry Slaughter: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, by Type,
United States, March 2009-April 2009
Tuberculosis
Leukosis
Septicaemia
March

April

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

10,844
2,090
1,940
150
12,934

15,472
1,894
1,747
147
17,366

31

37

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Commodity

Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total
Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Commodity

Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total

Airsacculitis

Chickens
Young
Mature
Light
Heavy
Total
Turkeys
Young
Old
Total

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

37

790,607
138,828
102,698
36,130
929,435

51,088
2,995
54,083
Tumors

43,946
1,727
45,673

March

April

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

561,018
6,884
4,094
2,790
567,902

435,531
6,970
3,851
3,119
442,501

12,077
371
12,448
Bruises

7,080
300
7,380

6,230
321
91
230
6,551

4,217
247
53
194
4,464

46,938
33,600
26,555
7,045
80,538

4,425
14
4,439
Cadaver

3,160
4
3,164

138
43
181
Contamination

45,220
43,532
37,100
6,432
88,752
74
45
119

March

April

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

13,615
9,696
8,760
936
23,311

Turkeys
Young
Old
Total
Commodity

31
Synovitis

852,480
134,707
98,260
36,447
987,187

13,453
12,921
12,333
588
26,374

504
26
530
Overscald

72,260
3,697
2,145
1,552
75,957

457
32
489

66,935
2,745
1,281
1,464
69,680

1,974
24
1,998
Other

1,740
74
1,814

119,663
108,983
95,608
13,375
228,646
2,806
131
2,937
Total

109,107
107,340
91,477
15,863
216,447
5,643
105
5,748

March

April

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

28,174
1,278
506
772
29,452

25,225
1,381
333
1,048
26,606

818,544
180,609
80,638
99,971
999,153

787,184
171,660
62,121
109,539
958,844

2,529,766
481,865
318,597
163,268
3,011,631

2,292,951
487,518
312,994
174,524
2,780,469

540
3
543

504
38
542

9,681
271
9,952

11,303
312
11,615

83,264
3,878
87,142

73,944
2,637
76,581

6

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
US
1

1

Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,
by State and United States, March 2009-April 2009
Number
Average
Live Weight
Slaughtered
Live Weight
March

April

March

April

March

April

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Pounds

Pounds

88,721

89,156

484,942

486,246

5.47

5.45

86,384
22,155

86,970
22,572

465,024
126,084

475,186
128,160

5.38
5.69

5.46
5.68

24,171
3,415
109,486

24,612
2,933
108,451

166,162
19,970
569,369

169,736
17,293
566,499

6.87
5.85
5.20

6.90
5.90
5.22

4,679

4,621

20,777

20,988

4.44

4.54

24,199
15,618

24,464
14,353

129,391
90,720

132,679
82,214

5.35
5.81

5.42
5.73

11,193

11,218

54,376

54,573

4.86

4.86

62,318
33,126

60,393
33,968

356,409
156,096

347,427
160,946

5.72
4.71

5.75
4.74

593

492

2,569

2,444

4.33

4.97

1,630
59,381

1,648
57,625

8,581
417,153

8,591
406,011

5.27
7.03

5.21
7.05

4,487

4,604

25,933

27,051

5.78

5.88

10,322

9,749

57,417

54,364

5.56

5.58

25,579

24,796

163,475

160,504

6.39

6.47

21,863
59,560

22,141
57,014

113,862
319,113

116,256
307,040

5.21
5.36

5.25
5.39

25,034

25,816

124,642

129,419

4.98

5.01

727,605

721,352

4,038,057

4,020,639

5.55

5.57

States with no data printed are included in the US total. Data not printed to avoid disclosing individual operations or no active
slaughter facility exists in the State.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

7

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
US
1
2
3

3

Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations
by State and United States, March 2009-April 2009
Post-Mortem Condemnations
Total Chilled and Frozen
Pounds Certified 1
Carcass and Parts
Percent 2
March

April

March

April

March

April

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Percent

Percent

360,425

363,159

2,837

2,796

0.78

0.76

335,056
92,955

343,453
94,899

3,404
920

3,168
892

1.01
0.98

0.91
0.93

119,329
14,188
424,143

122,138
12,130
424,844

1,493
75
3,800

1,428
70
3,262

1.24
0.53
0.89

1.16
0.58
0.76

15,257

15,325

159

174

1.03

1.12

94,415
66,720

96,778
60,458

885
404

807
311

0.93
0.60

0.83
0.51

39,369

39,721

606

427

1.52

1.06

271,576
115,124

267,657
118,017

2,335
1,304

2,036
1,276

0.85
1.12

0.75
1.07

1,555

1,514

51

63

3.17

4.01

5,204
321,356

5,218
313,472

166
3,876

154
3,602

3.10
1.19

2.86
1.14

19,127

19,881

324

326

1.66

1.62

40,014

37,914

768

657

1.88

1.70

122,562

120,728

934

992

0.76

0.82

82,421
248,951

84,429
239,556

709
2,054

648
1,868

0.85
0.82

0.76
0.77

87,121

90,321

771

763

0.88

0.84

2,998,633

2,994,952

29,209

26,946

0.96

0.89

Ready-to-cook weights.
Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.
States with no data printed are included in the US total. Data not printed to avoid disclosing individual operations or no active
slaughter facility exists in the State.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

8

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Septicaemia

March

April

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

AL
AR
DE
GA
MS
MO
NC
TX
VA

192
376
1,172
134
236
218
5,253
84
95

107
336
1,550
120
105
183
10,930
79
116

55,490
108,454
50,094
69,514
28,764
83,161
79,195
46,472
28,257

50,814
101,427
47,991
62,761
26,625
78,480
70,279
40,156
24,891

US 1

10,844

15,472

852,480

790,607

State

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

March

April

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

AL
AR
DE
GA
MS
MO
NC
TX
VA

55,026
30,365
33,798
149,664
19,907
13,842
55,872
17,311
22,925

63,109
27,012
28,431
87,449
16,127
13,368
47,286
16,241
17,378

426
1,549
113
151
111
140
232
49
11

274
1,618
85
286
145
165
326
61
30

3,730
2,301
5,738
9,444
507
1,449
9,029
649
3,060

3,678
2,101
5,584
8,213
397
1,322
9,477
528
2,914

US 1

561,018

435,531

6,230

4,217

46,938

45,220

State

Bruises

Cadaver

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Contamination

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

AL
AR
DE
GA
MS
MO
NC
TX
VA

1,358
1,658
752
1,210
1,389
523
1,058
301
469

1,387
1,457
751
1,145
1,055
488
935
320
548

6,888
8,547
3,079
15,713
2,090
1,681
10,183
3,578
1,391

5,789
7,195
3,652
14,451
1,616
1,385
8,425
3,953
1,931

7,860
11,868
4,347
9,310
7,862
7,949
5,587
6,543
2,472

7,917
10,693
4,684
8,108
4,572
8,299
5,152
6,254
3,245

US 1

13,615

13,453

72,260

66,935

119,663

109,107

State

1

Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,
by State and United States, March 2009-April 2009
Tuberculosis
Leukosis

Overscald

Other

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Total

March

April

March

April

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

Number of Head

AL
AR
DE
GA
MS
MO
NC
TX
VA

4,986
2,829
984
2,455
335
41
4,450
1,056
633

5,688
1,768
808
2,197
542
79
5,748
951
1,168

116,465
60,233
20,533
100,887
47,905
73,069
81,710
52,921
39,505

104,599
78,807
17,901
96,576
47,692
74,558
92,511
42,128
38,494

252,421
228,180
120,610
358,482
109,106
182,073
252,569
128,964
98,818

243,362
232,414
111,437
281,306
98,876
178,327
251,069
110,671
90,715

US 1

28,174

25,225

818,544

787,184

2,529,766

2,292,951

Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

9

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Young Turkeys Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average
Live Weight, by State and United States, March 2009-April 2009
Number
Live Weight
Slaughtered

State

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
US
1

1

Average
Live Weight

March

April

March

April

March

April

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Pounds

Pounds

2,880
1,034

2,719
1,198

55,561
28,167

53,673
32,581

19.30
27.25

19.74
27.19

1,529
981

1,442
985

57,763
38,867

53,627
38,992

37.79
39.60

37.20
39.60

3,050

3,291

82,119

88,685

26.93

26.95

2,894

2,801

88,392

82,675

30.54

29.52

413

398

17,600

17,423

42.62

43.78

389

419

16,526

17,682

42.46

42.19

239

309

4,682

6,539

19.57

21.16

19,925

20,167

587,139

591,652

29.47

29.34

States with no data printed are included in the US total. Data not printed to avoid disclosing individual operations or no active
slaughter facility exists in the State.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

10

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

AL
AK
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
WA
WV
WI
WY
US
1
2
3

3

Young Turkeys Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem
Condemnations, by State and United States, March 2009-April 2009
Post-Mortem Condemnations
Total Chilled and Frozen
Pounds Certified 1
Carcass and Parts
Percent 2
March

April

March

April

March

April

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

1,000 Pounds

Percent

Percent

46,300
22,895

44,634
26,499

762
261

788
277

1.62
1.13

1.74
1.03

46,295
30,407

42,994
30,832

734
640

762
675

1.56
2.06

1.74
2.14

65,265

70,781

1,427

1,280

2.14

1.78

70,393

65,656

613

592

0.86

0.89

13,931

13,824

382

373

2.67

2.63

13,259

14,300

170

160

1.27

1.11

3,764

5,357

63

79

1.65

1.45

467,717

472,243

7,862

7,437

1.65

1.55

Ready-to-cook weights.
Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.
States with no data printed are included in the US total. Data not printed to avoid disclosing individual operations or no active
slaughter facility exists in the State.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

11

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Terms and Definitions Used for Poultry Slaughter Estimates:
Ante-Mortem Condemnations - Birds condemned prior to their entry into the slaughter plant.
Certified Ready-to-Cook - The weight of poultry certified wholesome by inspection after post-mortem
condemnation pounds are removed. Ready-to-cook represents poultry meat ready for the marketing channel.
Ducks - Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight.
Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks.
Old Turkeys - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 months of age.
Post-Mortem Condemnations - Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector because of disease or
mishandling and removed from the slaughter line and destroyed.
Young Chickens – Commercially grown broilers-fryers and other young immature birds such as roasters
and capons.
Young Turkeys - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about 5 months and other turkeys such as
fryers/roasters and young breeders.

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

12

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Reliability of Poultry Slaughter Estimates
Data Sources: Data for poultry slaughter estimates are collected by inspectors of the Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA for all Federally Inspected (FI) plants. Over 99 percent of the total U.S.
slaughter for any species is under FI. The number of head slaughtered daily, by species and class, as well as
condemnations and total live and dressed weights are obtained by shift for each plant. Approximately 320
plants slaughtered poultry in the U.S. under Federal Inspection in 2008. Young chickens were slaughtered in
34 States, young turkeys in 26 States.
Revision Policy: Data for the previous month and year-to-date totals are subject to revision the following
month after the initial monthly estimates are published. Final data are published in the annual summary
released in February and include any revisions made to current year’s and previous year’s published data.
Revisions are generally the result of late reports or corrections received by FSIS from plants and are usually
less than one-half of 1 percent. No revisions will be made to the previous year’s data after publication of the
annual summary in February.
Procedures and Reliability: Plant inspectors submit data electronically for each shift a plant operates. An
edit provides checks for the detection of errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous
data. Data are accumulated to monthly totals for this release.
Data for major slaughter plants with missing reports are adjusted prior to publication to assure that all plants
slaughtering a significant portion of a specific class are included. Estimates for missing shifts are made only
after verifying that the plant was in operation. Adjustments are based on a shift determined to be similar to
the one missing. Late reports replace imputed data as they become available. While there is a varying
degree of incompleteness from month to month, it has only a minimal impact on the published totals.
Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and, therefore, have no sampling error.
However, they may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting,
recording, and processing the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and
summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.
Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics
Service to contact for additional information.
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .................................................................................(202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section..........................................(202) 720-4447
David Colwell - Cold Storage ...........................................................................................(202) 720-8784
Chris Hawthorn - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink .......................................(202) 720-0585
Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey......................................(202) 720-3244
Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs ..............................................................................................(202) 690-8632
Troy Marshall - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised.............................(202) 690-3237

Poultry Slaughter
May 2009

13

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

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