Poultry Slaughter - Release

Poultry Slaughter
ISSN: 1949-1581

Released November 26, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 5 Percent from Last Year
October 2017 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
October 2018 contained 23 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Poultry certified wholesome during October 2018 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 4.53 billion pounds, up 5 percent from
the amount certified in October 2017. The September 2018 revised certified total at 3.90 billion pounds, was down 1
percent from September 2017. The September revision represented an increase of 12 million pounds from last month's
preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during October 2018 was 5.98 billion pounds, up
5 percent from 5.70 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 5.16 billion pounds, up 5 percent from
October 2017. Mature chickens, at 75.6 million pounds, were up 4 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections
totaled 716 million pounds, up 4 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 18.2 million pounds, up 15 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during October 2018 averaged 6.32 pounds per bird, up slightly from October 2017. The
average live weight of mature chickens was 6.54 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered
during October 2018 averaged 30.0 pounds per bird, down slightly from October 2017.
Ante-mortem condemnations during October 2018 totaled 14.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.23 percent of the
live weight inspected, as compared with 0.23 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 37.7 million pounds,
were 0.83 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.90 percent a year earlier.

Poultry Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type – United States
[Federally inspected only]

Commodity

October
2017

September
2018

October
2018

January
to October

October 2018 as % of
October
2017

September
2018

2017

2018

2018 as
percent
of 2017

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Slaughtered
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

783,000
11,358
4,089
7,269
794,358

719,006
9,618
3,306
6,312
728,624

817,500
11,553
4,183
7,370
829,053

104
102
102
101
104

114
120
127
117
114

7,483,305
113,130
48,849
64,281
7,596,435

7,613,101
107,256
39,402
67,854
7,720,357

102
95
81
106
102

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

22,825
183
23,008

17,387
156
17,543

23,684
194
23,878

104
106
104

136
124
136

200,256
1,434
201,690

197,425
1,417
198,842

99
99
99

Ducks ...........................

2,274

2,047

2,600

114

127

22,160

23,037

104

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

Total live weight
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

4,921,750
72,896
13,886
59,010
4,994,646

4,532,242
63,517
11,433
52,084
4,595,759

5,164,316
75,587
14,251
61,336
5,239,903

105
104
103
104
105

114
119
125
118
114

46,328,571
689,503
164,477
525,026
47,018,074

47,647,727
691,810
135,334
556,476
48,339,537

103
100
82
106
103

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

686,143
5,436
691,579

531,593
4,722
536,315

710,416
5,577
715,993

104
103
104

134
118
134

6,204,479
42,057
6,246,536

6,129,144
41,752
6,170,896

99
99
99

Ducks ...........................

15,788

14,082

18,165

115

129

152,972

160,224

105

Other 1 .........................

1,239

697

1,040

84

149

3,563

3,296

93

Total ............................

5,703,252

5,146,853

5,975,101

105

116

53,421,145

54,673,953

102

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Average live weight
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

6.29
6.42
3.40
8.12
6.29

6.30
6.60
3.46
8.25
6.31

6.32
6.54
3.41
8.32
6.32

100
102
100
102
100

100
99
99
101
100

6.19
6.09
3.37
8.17
6.19

6.26
6.45
3.43
8.20
6.26

101
106
102
100
101

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

30.06
29.70
30.06

30.57
30.27
30.57

30.00
28.75
29.99

100
97
100

98
95
98

30.98
29.33
30.97

31.05
29.47
31.03

100
100
100

Ducks ...........................

6.94

6.88

6.99

101

102

6.90

6.96

101

1

2

Includes geese, guineas, ostriches, emus, rheas, and squab.

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified by Type – United States
[Ready-to-cook weights]

Commodity

October
2017

September
2018

October
2018

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

January
to October

October 2018 as % of
October
2017

September
2018

2017

2018

2018 as
percent
of 2017

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

Chilled
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

3,413,575
48,259
7,113
41,146
3,461,834

3,161,872
42,103
5,864
36,239
3,203,975

3,607,491
49,986
7,304
42,682
3,657,477

106
104
103
104
106

114
119
125
118
114

32,178,582
448,666
84,603
364,063
32,627,248

33,260,231
457,203
69,449
387,754
33,717,434

103
102
82
107
103

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

366,741
3,979
370,720

271,130
3,440
274,570

365,270
4,183
369,453

100
105
100

135
122
135

2,884,380
30,891
2,915,271

3,024,158
30,703
3,054,861

105
99
105

Ducks ..........................

4,605

3,993

5,368

117

134

42,673

44,689

105

Other 1 .........................

247

131

197

80

150

1,419

1,322

93

Total ............................

3,837,406

3,482,669

4,032,495

105

116

35,586,611

36,818,306

103

Frozen
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

295,968
5
5
295,973

255,882
255,882

285,945
285,945

97
(X)
(X)
(X)
97

112
(X)
(X)
(X)
112

2,721,718
29
27
2
2,721,747

2,643,273
10
10
2,643,283

97
34
37
(X)
97

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

183,377
85
183,462

153,495
172
153,667

203,253
90
203,343

111
106
111

132
52
132

2,086,288
699
2,086,987

1,876,788
779
1,877,567

90
111
90

Ducks ..........................

6,870

6,215

7,953

116

128

68,710

72,183

105

Other 1 .........................

531

308

456

86

148

877

857

98

Total ............................

486,836

416,072

497,697

102

120

4,878,321

4,593,890

94

Chilled and frozen
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

3,709,543
48,264
7,118
41,146
3,757,807

3,417,754
42,103
5,864
36,239
3,459,857

3,893,436
49,986
7,304
42,682
3,943,422

105
104
103
104
105

114
119
125
118
114

34,900,300
448,695
84,630
364,065
35,348,995

35,903,504
457,213
69,459
387,754
36,360,717

103
102
82
107
103

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

550,118
4,064
554,182

424,625
3,612
428,237

568,523
4,273
572,796

103
105
103

134
118
134

4,970,668
31,590
5,002,258

4,900,946
31,482
4,932,428

99
100
99

Ducks ..........................

11,475

10,208

13,321

116

130

111,383

116,872

105

Other 1 .........................

778

439

653

84

149

2,296

2,179

95

Total ............................

4,324,242

3,898,741

4,530,192

105

116

40,464,932

41,412,196

102

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
1
Includes geese, guineas, and squab.

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Ante-Mortem Condemnations by Type – United States
[Federally inspected only]

Commodity

October
2017

September
2018

January
to October

October 2018 as % of

October
2018

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

October
2017

September
2018

2017

2018

2018 as
percent
of 2017

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

Live weight
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

10,830
743
216
527
11,573

10,408
527
171
356
10,935

11,642
609
186
423
12,251

107
82
86
80
106

112
116
109
119
112

103,454
8,056
2,760
5,296
111,510

109,314
7,018
2,189
4,829
116,332

106
87
79
91
104

Turkeys ........................
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

1,556
46
1,602

1,415
41
1,456

1,654
46
1,700

106
100
106

117
112
117

15,875
482
16,357

16,033
421
16,454

101
87
101

Ducks ...........................

60

82

72

120

88

471

652

138

Total 1 ..........................

13,237

12,476

14,025

106

112

128,341

133,443

104

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Percent of live
weight condemned 2
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

0.22
1.02
1.56
0.89
0.23

0.23
0.83
1.50
0.68
0.24

0.23
0.81
1.31
0.69
0.23

105
79
84
78
100

100
98
87
101
96

0.22
1.17
1.68
1.01
0.24

0.23
1.01
1.62
0.87
0.24

105
86
96
86
100

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

0.23
0.85
0.23

0.27
0.87
0.27

0.23
0.82
0.24

100
96
104

85
94
89

0.26
1.15
0.26

0.26
1.01
0.27

100
88
104

Ducks ...........................

0.38

0.58

0.40

105

69

0.31

0.41

132

Total 1 ..........................

0.23

0.24

0.23

100

96

0.24

0.24

100

1

Includes geese, guineas, and squab.
2
Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected.

4

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type – United States
[Federally inspected only]

Commodity

October
2017

September
2018

January
to October

October 2018 as % of

October
2018

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

October
2017

September
2018

2017

2018

2018 as
percent
of 2017

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

Carcass and parts
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

29,212
2,095
515
1,580
31,307

23,828
1,555
355
1,200
25,383

27,881
1,855
434
1,421
29,736

95
89
84
90
95

117
119
122
118
117

287,354
22,054
6,482
15,572
309,408

274,846
17,721
4,316
13,405
292,567

96
80
67
86
95

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

7,454
207
7,661

6,350
172
6,522

7,464
159
7,623

100
77
100

118
92
117

71,054
1,736
72,790

69,422
1,687
71,109

98
97
98

Ducks ..........................

319

322

330

103

102

2,935

3,108

106

Other 1 .........................

8

6

8

100

133

34

31

91

Total ............................

39,295

32,233

37,697

96

117

385,167

366,815

95

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Percent of
weight condemned 2
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

0.78
4.16
6.75
3.70
0.83

0.69
3.56
5.71
3.21
0.73

0.71
3.58
5.61
3.22
0.75

91
86
83
87
90

103
101
98
100
103

0.82
4.68
7.11
4.10
0.87

0.76
3.73
5.85
3.34
0.80

93
80
82
81
92

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

1.34
4.85
1.36

1.47
4.55
1.50

1.30
3.59
1.31

97
74
96

88
79
87

1.41
5.21
1.43

1.40
5.09
1.42

99
98
99

Ducks ..........................

2.70

3.06

2.42

90

79

2.57

2.59

101

Other 1 .........................

1.02

1.35

1.21

119

90

1.46

1.40

96

Total ............................

0.90

0.82

0.83

92

101

0.94

0.88

94

1

Includes geese, guineas, and squab.
2
Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause and Type – United States: September and October 2018
Commodity

Tuberculosis

Leukosis

Septicaemia

September

October

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

-

-

2,890
114
74
40
3,004

2,687
140
92
48
2,827

675,546
87,846
41,222
46,624
763,392

729,240
102,645
51,823
50,822
831,885

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

-

-

23
7
30

251
4
255

12,881
1,080
13,961

22,930
1,243
24,173

Commodity

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

September

October

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

281,918
9,527
2,325
7,202
291,445

306,253
10,841
2,983
7,858
317,094

2,693
218
13
205
2,911

3,305
410
189
221
3,715

16,211
24,784
13,416
11,368
40,995

17,628
30,367
15,083
15,284
47,995

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

3,252
466
3,718

6,006
405
6,411

156
16
172

497
2
499

102
203
305

44
119
163

Commodity

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

September

October

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

11,022
3,886
2,230
1,656
14,908

12,140
4,434
2,539
1,895
16,574

47,070
891
264
627
47,961

52,672
957
209
748
53,629

118,566
27,357
21,690
5,667
145,923

129,012
26,662
21,404
5,258
155,674

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

85
15
100

145
7
152

284
7
291

854
31
885

663
97
760

1,747
115
1,862

Commodity

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

September

October

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

37,341
1,216
126
1,090
38,557

35,339
1,347
126
1,221
36,686

632,194
71,541
45,182
26,359
703,735

727,952
89,934
57,023
32,911
817,886

1,825,451
227,380
126,542
100,838
2,052,831

2,016,228
267,737
151,471
116,266
2,283,965

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

313
16
329

454
19
473

12,089
486
12,575

18,950
533
19,483

29,848
2,393
32,241

51,878
2,478
54,356

- Represents zero.
Includes any portion of the carcass affected by an inflammatory process, plant-rejected carcasses, missing viscera, or ascites fluid preventing proper
inspection of the carcass.

1

6

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and United States:
September and October 2018
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Total
live weight

Slaughtered

Average
live weight

September

October

September

October

September

October

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ...........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware ..........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

87,465
79,845
21,008
(D)
31,518
4,329
102,050

98,043
92,042
23,502
(D)
35,119
4,539
111,480

488,560
539,105
127,123
(D)
230,250
26,404
617,420

546,683
617,858
146,432
(D)
254,704
27,736
669,359

5.59
6.75
6.05
(D)
7.31
6.10
6.05

5.58
6.71
6.23
(D)
7.25
6.11
6.00

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ...........................

(D)
(D)
5,495
(D)
(D)
23,682
15,514
(D)
10,507

(D)
(D)
6,522
(D)
(D)
26,741
17,448
(D)
11,853

(D)
(D)
24,233
(D)
(D)
155,161
95,546
(D)
64,146

(D)
(D)
28,906
(D)
(D)
172,093
107,875
(D)
72,169

(D)
(D)
4.41
(D)
(D)
6.55
6.16
(D)
6.11

(D)
(D)
4.43
(D)
(D)
6.44
6.18
(D)
6.09

Massachusetts ..................
Michigan ...........................
Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
Nevada .............................
New Hampshire ................
New Jersey .......................

(D)
4,229
59,582
35,260
(D)
86

(D)
5,096
65,229
40,217
(D)
125

(D)
26,098
378,495
177,812
(D)
425

(D)
30,970
413,579
202,352
(D)
585

(D)
6.17
6.35
5.04
(D)
4.93

(D)
6.08
6.34
5.03
(D)
4.69

New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina ..................

2,060
58,020
8,302
12,354
(D)
10,077
(D)
23,094

2,417
77,947
9,634
13,240
(D)
11,278
(D)
27,043

10,206
468,986
43,194
80,835
(D)
58,225
(D)
178,614

11,897
629,751
49,952
87,976
(D)
64,685
(D)
204,585

4.95
8.08
5.20
6.54
(D)
5.78
(D)
7.73

4.92
8.08
5.19
6.64
(D)
5.74
(D)
7.57

South Dakota ....................
Tennessee ........................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

(D)
25,203
52,267
(D)
27,490
3,605
8,615
4,215
-

26,503
58,308
(D)
30,991
4,205
9,528
4,559
-

(D)
137,594
343,180
(D)
167,594
23,539
32,995
17,111
-

143,170
386,748
(D)
187,734
27,498
36,589
18,658
-

(D)
5.46
6.57
(D)
6.10
6.53
3.83
4.06
-

5.40
6.63
(D)
6.06
6.54
3.84
4.09
-

United States ....................

719,006

817,500

4,532,242

5,164,316

6.30

6.32

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States:
September and October 2018
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Post-mortem condemnations

Total chilled and frozen
pounds certified 1

Percent 2

Carcass and parts

September

October

September

October

September

October

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ..........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona ............................
Arkansas ..........................
California .........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware .........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

372,147
404,741
95,139
(D)
177,439
19,803
466,487

416,226
463,947
109,430
(D)
196,255
20,802
504,309

1,985
2,622
1,015
(D)
1,239
225
3,246

2,247
2,867
1,138
(D)
1,306
258
3,927

0.53
(X)
(X)
0.64
1.06
(D)
(X)
0.69
1.12
0.69

0.54
(X)
(X)
0.61
1.03
(D)
(X)
0.66
1.23
0.77

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa .................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana .........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................

(D)
(D)
17,679
(D)
(D)
117,610
72,266
(D)
47,580

(D)
(D)
21,082
(D)
(D)
130,146
81,091
(D)
53,388

(D)
(D)
72
(D)
(D)
915
366
(D)
346

(D)
(D)
79
(D)
(D)
1,154
371
(D)
404

(X)
(D)
(D)
0.41
(D)
(D)
0.77
0.50
(D)
0.72

(X)
(D)
(D)
0.37
(D)
(D)
0.88
0.46
(D)
0.75

Massachusetts .................
Michigan ..........................
Minnesota ........................
Mississippi .......................
Missouri ...........................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska .........................
Nevada ............................
New Hampshire ...............
New Jersey ......................

(D)
19,942
290,314
130,879
(D)
311

(D)
23,209
319,152
148,211
(D)
420

(D)
131
2,070
694
(D)
3

(D)
152
2,270
743
(D)
7

(X)
(D)
0.65
0.71
0.53
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
0.89

(X)
(D)
0.65
0.71
0.50
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
1.61

New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio .................................
Oklahoma ........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina .................

6,336
360,955
32,135
60,814
(D)
39,754
(D)
134,536

7,333
484,645
37,143
66,067
(D)
44,454
(D)
154,084

229
2,524
259
208
(D)
854
(D)
1,168

292
3,257
384
247
(D)
971
(D)
1,527

(X)
3.49
0.69
(X)
0.80
0.34
(D)
2.10
(D)
0.86

(X)
3.82
0.67
(X)
1.02
0.37
(D)
2.14
(D)
0.98

South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah .................................
Vermont ...........................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin ........................
Wyoming ..........................

(D)
100,992
262,193
(D)
119,701
17,599
23,573
12,785
-

105,273
295,147
(D)
133,877
20,586
26,141
13,954
-

(D)
738
1,682
(D)
503
65
235
45
-

764
2,032
(D)
532
84
230
57
-

(D)
0.73
0.64
(X)
(D)
0.42
0.37
0.99
0.35
(X)

(X)
0.72
0.68
(X)
(D)
0.40
0.41
0.87
0.41
(X)

United States ...................

3,417,754

3,893,436

23,828

27,881

0.69

0.71

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
1
Ready-to-cook weights.
2
Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.

8

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause – States and United States: September and
October 2018
[Published States do not add to United States total to avoid disclosure]
State

Tuberculosis

Septicaemia

September

October

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................
United States ............................
State

Leukosis

-

-

250
48
521
7
64
103
301
71

256
65
716
18
45
2
82
111
45

40,317
62,502
52,224
54,425
17,509
26,265
68,025
58,248
20,595

46,417
59,214
59,777
56,350
18,641
29,014
74,725
57,313
23,051

-

-

2,890

2,687

675,546

729,240

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

September

October

(head)

(head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................

28,692
20,755
28,817
65,536
7,405
3,368
19,822
14,732
9,554

31,363
20,270
24,806
73,376
9,527
3,361
17,990
14,710
11,110

96
115
19
181
119
16
60
280
15

222
145
28
232
112
20
234
417
30

2,003
1,052
644
1,772
1,026
393
1,620
896
505

1,934
1,149
804
2,037
961
438
1,898
907
513

United States ............................

281,918

306,253

2,693

3,305

16,211

17,628

State

Bruises

Cadaver

September

October

(head)

(head)

Contamination

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................

570
308
826
605
718
50
546
499
722

670
300
835
569
888
60
657
460
715

3,253
4,738
3,064
13,230
2,656
249
4,784
374
721

4,047
5,982
3,015
12,684
3,206
252
5,354
327
940

16,143
5,006
6,299
36,944
2,021
1,552
4,168
4,064
1,993

20,197
4,639
4,450
39,935
1,984
1,653
4,540
3,915
2,278

United States ............................

11,022

12,140

47,070

52,672

118,566

129,012

State

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

September

October

September

October

September

October

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................

2,174
2,297
2,821
7,485
393
58
2,602
1,293
378

857
1,883
1,783
11,417
312
56
3,119
1,045
489

35,958
114,290
5,696
62,571
12,521
16,187
45,360
17,064
10,664

31,808
133,037
5,753
75,665
14,228
20,599
42,998
17,011
11,728

129,456
211,111
100,931
242,756
44,432
48,138
147,090
97,751
45,218

137,771
226,684
101,967
272,283
49,904
55,455
151,597
96,216
50,899

United States ............................

37,341

35,339

632,194

727,952

1,825,451

2,016,228

- Represents zero.
1
Includes any portion of the carcass affected by an inflammatory process, plant-rejected carcasses, missing viscera, or ascites fluid preventing proper
inspection of the carcass.

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Young Turkeys Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and United States:
September and October 2018
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Total
live weight

Slaughtered

Average
live weight

September

October

September

October

September

October

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ..........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona ............................
Arkansas ..........................
California .........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware .........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

(D)
2,447
785
(D)
(D)
(D)

3,752
1,760
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
49,934
22,668
(D)
(D)
(D)

72,785
43,921
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
20.40
28.87
(D)
(D)
(D)

19.40
24.96
(D)
(D)
(D)

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa .................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana .........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................

(D)
(D)
1,789
1,019
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
2,065
1,339
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
67,772
43,448
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
78,638
57,267
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
37.89
42.65
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
38.07
42.78
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

Massachusetts .................
Michigan ..........................
Minnesota ........................
Mississippi .......................
Missouri ...........................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska .........................
Nevada ............................
New Hampshire ...............
New Jersey ......................

(D)
3,543
828
(D)

(D)
3,892
950
(D)
(D)

(D)
90,057
26,688
(D)

(D)
105,651
30,274
(D)
(D)

(D)
25.42
32.21
(D)

(D)
27.15
31.88
(D)
(D)

New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio .................................
Oklahoma ........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina .................

(D)
1,259
459
688
(D)
(D)

(D)
2,246
550
(D)
1,220
(D)
(D)

(D)
42,885
20,510
19,038
(D)
(D)

(D)
79,930
25,122
(D)
30,041
(D)
(D)

(D)
34.05
44.66
27.66
(D)
(D)

(D)
35.59
45.72
(D)
24.62
(D)
(D)

South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah .................................
Vermont ...........................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin ........................
Wyoming ..........................

(D)
473
(D)
(D)
1,903
(D)
-

(D)
583
(D)
(D)
2,567
(D)
-

(D)
6,998
(D)
(D)
52,569
(D)
-

(D)
8,949
(D)
(D)
67,869
(D)
-

(D)
14.80
(D)
(D)
27.63
(D)
-

(D)
15.36
(D)
(D)
26.44
(D)
-

United States ...................

17,387

23,684

531,593

710,416

30.57

30.00

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

10

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Turkeys Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States:
September and October 2018
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Post-mortem condemnations

Total chilled and frozen
pounds certified 1

Percent 2

Carcass and parts

September

October

September

October

September

October

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware ..........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

(D)
41,536
18,119
(D)
(D)
(D)

60,775
35,441
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
361
171
(D)
(D)
(D)

394
210
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(X)
(X)
0.86
0.94
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)

(X)
(X)
(X)
0.64
0.59
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ...........................

(D)
(D)
54,776
34,241
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
63,681
45,089
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
1,001
511
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
1,108
651
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
1.79
1.47
(D)
(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
1.71
1.42
(D)
(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)

Massachusetts ..................
Michigan ...........................
Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
Nevada .............................
New Hampshire ................
New Jersey .......................

(D)
71,777
21,626
(D)

(D)
84,087
24,528
(D)
(D)

(D)
1,155
98
(D)

(D)
1,163
116
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.58
(X)
0.45
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.36
(X)
0.47
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)

New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina ..................

(D)
33,299
16,388
15,208
(D)
(D)

(D)
62,596
20,075
(D)
23,882
(D)
(D)

(D)
288
315
337
(D)
(D)

(D)
440
315
(D)
539
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
0.86
(X)
1.89
(X)
(X)
2.17
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
0.70
(X)
1.54
(X)
(D)
2.21
(D)
(D)

South Dakota ....................
Tennessee ........................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

(D)
5,766
(D)
(D)
42,125
(D)
-

(D)
7,504
(D)
(D)
54,404
(D)
-

(D)
43
(D)
(D)
630
(D)
-

(D)
57
(D)
(D)
866
(D)
-

(D)
(X)
0.75
(D)
(D)
1.47
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

(D)
(X)
0.75
(D)
(D)
1.57
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

United States ....................

424,625

568,523

6,350

7,464

1.47

1.30

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
1
Ready-to-cook weights.
2
Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Terms and Definitions Used for Poultry Slaughter Estimates
Ante-Mortem Condemnations: Birds condemned prior to their entry into the slaughter plant.
Average Live Weight: The weight of the whole bird, before slaughter. Excludes post-mortem condemnations.
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.
Dressing Percent: Usually expressed as a percentage yield of frozen and chilled carcass in relation to the weight of the
live bird.
Ducks: Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight.
Federally Inspected (FI) Plants: Plants that transport meat interstate must employ federal inspectors to assure
compliance with USDA standards.
Mature Chickens: Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks.
Number of Head: Includes post-mortem condemnations.
Old Turkeys: Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 months of age.
Plant, Slaughter: An establishment where birds are killed and butchered.
Post-Mortem Condemnations: Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector because of disease or mishandling and
removed from the slaughter line and destroyed.
Slaughter: Killing and butchering of birds primarily for food.
Total Live Weight: The total weight of live birds, before slaughter. Excludes post-mortem condemnations.
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, and other turkeys such as fryers/roasters and young
breeders.

12

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Statistical Methodology
Data Sources: Data for poultry slaughter estimates are collected by inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service
(FSIS), USDA for all Federally Inspected plants. Over 99 percent of the total United States slaughter for any species is
under Federal Inspection. 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 United
States under Federal Inspection in 2017. Young chickens were slaughtered in 40 States, young turkeys in 33 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 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 one 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. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected]
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Tony Dorn, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section ..................................................................... (202) 690-3223
Holly Brenize – Poultry Slaughter............................................................................................................. (202) 720-0585
Alissa Cowell-Mytar – Cold Storage, Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses .......................................... (202) 720-4751
Liana Cuffman – Catfish and Trout, Egg Products, Mink, Census of Aquaculture ................................. (202) 720-8784
Fatema Haque – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ............................................................................. (202) 720-3244
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3676
Adam Peters – Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .................................................................................... (202) 690-3237
Erica Sadler – Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies ............................................................. (202) 720-6147

Poultry Slaughter (November 2018)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Access to NASS Reports
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 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov
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For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].

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employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where
applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's
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If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
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