Poultry Slaughter - Release

Poultry Slaughter
ISSN: 1949-1581

Released August 24, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 1 Percent from Last Year
July 2020 contained 23 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
July 2021 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 5 Saturdays.
Poultry certified wholesome during July 2021 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 4.26 billion pounds, down 1 percent from
the amount certified in July 2020. The June 2021 revised certified total at 4.47 billion pounds, was up 3 percent from
June 2020. The June revision represented an increase of 11.2 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds
certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during July 2021 was 5.62 billion pounds, down
1 percent from 5.69 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.96 billion pounds, down slightly from
July 2020. Mature chickens, at 67.6 million pounds, were down 5 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections
totaled 574 million pounds, down 9 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.9 million pounds, up 40 percent from last
year.
Young chickens slaughtered during July 2021 averaged 6.46 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from July 2020. The average
live weight of mature chickens was 6.94 pounds per bird, up slightly from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during
July 2021 averaged 32.0 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from July 2020.
Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2021 totaled 13.6 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.24 percent of the
live weight inspected, as compared with 0.24 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 26.6 million pounds,
were 0.62 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.66 percent a year earlier.

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

July
2020

June
2021

July
2021

January
to July

July 2021 as % of
July
2020

June
2021

2020

2021

2021 as
percent
of 2020

(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 ..........................

786,204
10,284
3,029
7,255
796,488

804,545
10,871
3,352
7,519
815,416

768,252
9,740
2,985
6,755
777,992

98
95
99
93
98

95
90
89
90
95

5,392,331
69,030
20,736
48,294
5,461,361

5,328,470
67,714
21,525
46,189
5,396,184

99
98
104
96
99

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

19,563
109
19,672

18,902
162
19,064

17,842
114
17,956

91
105
91

94
70
94

127,385
872
128,257

122,550
966
123,516

96
111
96

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

1,472

2,081

2,001

136

96

13,752

13,538

98

(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 ..........................

4,973,291
71,022
10,629
60,393
5,044,313

5,208,055
73,308
11,786
61,522
5,281,363

4,963,929
67,623
10,604
57,019
5,031,552

100
95
100
94
100

95
92
90
93
95

34,416,540
470,569
71,935
398,634
34,887,109

34,283,108
456,980
74,699
382,281
34,740,088

100
97
104
96
100

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

630,187
3,225
633,412

605,013
5,084
610,097

570,399
3,454
573,853

91
107
91

94
68
94

4,162,638
26,502
4,189,140

4,037,644
29,157
4,066,801

97
110
97

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

9,936

14,332

13,866

140

97

95,691

94,367

99

...........................

247

310

273

111

88

1,564

1,363

87

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

5,687,908

5,906,102

5,619,544

99

95

39,173,504

38,902,619

99

Other

1

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(percent)

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

6.33
6.91
3.51
8.32
6.33

6.47
6.74
3.52
8.18
6.48

6.46
6.94
3.55
8.44
6.47

102
100
101
101
102

100
103
101
103
100

6.38
6.82
3.47
8.25
6.39

6.43
6.75
3.47
8.28
6.44

101
99
100
100
101

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

32.21
29.59
32.20

32.01
31.38
32.00

31.97
30.30
31.96

99
102
99

100
97
100

32.68
30.39
32.66

32.95
30.18
32.93

101
99
101

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

6.75

6.89

6.93

103

101

6.96

6.97

100

1

2

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

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

Commodity

July
2020

June
2021

January
to July

July 2021 as % of

July
2021

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

July
2020

June
2021

2020

2021

2021 as
percent
of 2020

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

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

3,479,648
49,719
5,388
44,331
3,529,367

3,655,987
50,306
6,031
44,275
3,706,293

3,487,489
46,618
5,516
41,102
3,534,107

100
94
102
93
100

95
93
91
93
95

24,062,642
321,336
36,862
284,474
24,383,978

24,110,012
313,447
38,406
275,041
24,423,459

100
98
104
97
100

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

311,084
2,296
313,380

292,602
3,794
296,396

273,336
2,540
275,876

88
111
88

93
67
93

2,070,696
19,343
2,090,039

1,983,483
21,657
2,005,140

96
112
96

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

2,994

3,389

3,516

117

104

25,952

22,682

87

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

152

191

162

107

85

976

841

86

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

3,845,893

4,006,269

3,813,661

99

95

26,500,945

26,452,122

100

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

266,171
266,171

267,571
267,571

256,884
256,884

97
(X)
(X)
(X)
97

96
(X)
(X)
(X)
96

1,861,179
1,861,179

1,759,263
1,759,263

95
(X)
(X)
(X)
95

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

191,663
62
191,725

191,037
79
191,116

181,968
65
182,033

95
105
95

95
82
95

1,252,783
480
1,253,263

1,241,079
453
1,241,532

99
94
99

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

4,330

7,064

6,616

153

94

43,935

46,548

106

Other ...........................

12

13

13

108

100

89

75

84

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

462,238

465,764

445,546

96

96

3,158,466

3,047,418

96

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

3,745,819
49,719
5,388
44,331
3,795,538

3,923,558
50,306
6,031
44,275
3,973,864

3,744,373
46,618
5,516
41,102
3,790,991

100
94
102
93
100

95
93
91
93
95

25,923,821
321,336
36,862
284,474
26,245,157

25,869,275
313,447
38,406
275,041
26,182,722

100
98
104
97
100

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

502,747
2,358
505,105

483,639
3,873
487,512

455,304
2,605
457,909

91
110
91

94
67
94

3,323,479
19,823
3,343,302

3,224,562
22,110
3,246,672

97
112
97

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

7,324

10,453

10,132

138

97

69,887

69,230

99

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

164

204

175

107

86

1,065

916

86

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

4,308,131

4,472,033

4,259,207

99

95

29,659,411

29,499,540

99

1

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

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

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

Commodity

July
2020

June
2021

January
to July

July 2021 as % of

July
2021

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

July
2020

June
2021

2020

2021

2021 as
percent
of 2020

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

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

10,796
694
158
536
11,490

10,595
718
134
584
11,313

10,588
725
140
585
11,313

98
104
89
109
98

100
101
104
100
100

69,992
4,173
724
3,449
74,165

69,206
4,568
714
3,854
73,774

99
109
99
112
99

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

1,957
46
2,003

1,944
42
1,986

2,115
53
2,168

108
115
108

109
126
109

11,300
261
11,561

12,613
313
12,926

112
120
112

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

61

93

109

179

117

439

491

112

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

13,554

13,392

13,590

100

101

86,165

87,191

101

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

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

0.22
0.98
1.49
0.89
0.23

0.20
0.98
1.14
0.95
0.21

0.21
1.07
1.32
1.03
0.22

95
109
89
116
96

105
109
116
108
105

0.20
0.89
1.01
0.87
0.21

0.20
1.00
0.96
1.01
0.21

100
112
95
116
100

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

0.31
1.43
0.32

0.32
0.83
0.33

0.37
1.53
0.38

119
107
119

116
184
115

0.27
0.98
0.28

0.31
1.07
0.32

115
109
114

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

0.61

0.65

0.79

130

122

0.46

0.52

113

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

0.24

0.23

0.24

100

104

0.22

0.22

100

1
2

4

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

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

Commodity

July
2020

June
2021

January
to July

July 2021 as % of

July
2021

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

July
2020

June
2021

2020

2021

2021 as
percent
of 2020

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

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

19,473
2,499
396
2,103
21,972

19,675
2,541
456
2,085
22,216

18,367
2,210
412
1,798
20,577

94
88
104
85
94

93
87
90
86
93

154,475
11,361
2,987
8,374
165,836

131,400
14,288
3,177
11,111
145,688

85
126
106
133
88

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

6,326
109
6,435

6,180
140
6,320

5,717
151
5,868

90
139
91

93
108
93

44,928
965
45,893

41,363
898
42,261

92
93
92

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

173

225

200

116

89

1,875

1,342

72

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

2

2

3

150

150

15

15

100

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

28,582

28,763

26,648

93

93

213,619

189,306

89

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

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

0.52
4.79
6.85
4.53
0.58

0.50
4.81
7.03
4.50
0.56

0.49
4.53
6.95
4.19
0.54

94
95
101
92
93

98
94
99
93
96

0.59
3.41
7.50
2.86
0.63

0.51
4.36
7.64
3.88
0.55

86
128
102
136
87

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

1.24
4.42
1.26

1.26
3.49
1.28

1.24
5.48
1.27

100
124
101

98
157
99

1.33
4.64
1.35

1.27
3.90
1.28

95
84
95

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

2.31

2.11

1.94

84

92

2.61

1.90

73

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

1.20

0.97

1.69

141

174

1.39

1.61

116

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

0.66

0.64

0.62

94

97

0.72

0.64

89

1
2

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

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause and Type – United States: June and July 2021
Commodity

Tuberculosis

Leukosis

Septicaemia

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

-

-

942
107
66
41
1,049

1,016
111
73
38
1,127

493,081
82,277
57,284
24,993
575,358

479,264
70,656
46,670
23,986
549,920

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

-

-

71
3
74

21
17
38

8,117
979
9,096

8,986
917
9,903

Commodity

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

248,438
8,052
3,682
4,370
256,490

237,119
9,278
3,614
5,664
246,397

1,220
146
41
105
1,366

1,165
260
114
146
1,425

12,400
39,378
22,645
16,733
51,778

11,849
36,988
19,052
17,936
48,837

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

1,510
234
1,744

2,277
397
2,674

52
5
57

17
19
36

25
75
100

14
94
108

Commodity

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

7,029
1,428
1,003
425
8,457

6,794
1,628
1,235
393
8,422

31,394
238
96
142
31,632

31,486
210
97
113
31,696

72,874
27,265
22,791
4,474
100,139

75,224
24,174
19,305
4,869
99,398

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

147
15
162

60
11
71

160
42
202

138
18
156

1,052
92
1,144

1,014
96
1,110

Commodity

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

29,982
304
28
276
30,286

28,493
287
45
242
28,780

641,424
49,912
26,959
22,953
691,336

623,325
46,202
24,223
21,979
669,527

1,538,784
209,107
134,595
74,512
1,747,891

1,495,735
189,794
114,428
75,366
1,685,529

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

112
36
148

176
14
190

11,446
1,158
12,604

10,441
1,292
11,733

22,692
2,639
25,331

23,144
2,875
26,019

- 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.

6

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and United States:
June and July 2021
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Total
live weight

Slaughtered

State

Average
live weight

June

July

June

July

June

July

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

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

103,063
85,241
23,173
(D)
31,429
(D)
106,146

94,824
80,563
21,115
(D)
29,776
(D)
102,549

580,717
603,006
143,112
(D)
242,424
(D)
658,534

529,897
571,627
127,094
(D)
228,845
(D)
628,689

5.63
7.07
6.18
(D)
7.71
(D)
6.20

5.59
7.10
6.02
(D)
7.69
(D)
6.13

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

(D)
(D)
6,623
(D)
(D)
24,947
15,836
(D)
11,851

(D)
(D)
6,664
(D)
(D)
22,986
14,603
(D)
11,539

(D)
(D)
29,551
(D)
(D)
164,351
106,962
(D)
77,110

(D)
(D)
30,493
(D)
(D)
149,709
98,872
(D)
75,291

(D)
(D)
4.46
(D)
(D)
6.59
6.75
(D)
6.51

(D)
(D)
4.58
(D)
(D)
6.51
6.77
(D)
6.53

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

(D)
(D)
59,584
36,345
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
56,919
33,797
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
371,975
189,777
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
352,311
179,361
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
6.24
5.22
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
6.19
5.31
(D)
(D)

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

2,504
80,979
(D)
10,821
(D)
11,864
(D)
25,126

2,474
77,845
(D)
11,211
(D)
11,301
(D)
25,362

11,771
672,340
(D)
70,306
(D)
69,245
(D)
189,492

11,853
641,915
(D)
72,760
(D)
66,876
(D)
191,138

4.70
8.30
(D)
6.50
(D)
5.84
(D)
7.54

4.79
8.25
(D)
6.49
(D)
5.92
(D)
7.54

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

(D)
27,561
60,641
(D)
28,873
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
26,742
61,421
(D)
26,958
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
161,273
408,853
(D)
182,949
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
156,207
421,716
(D)
168,748
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
5.85
6.74
(D)
6.34
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
5.84
6.87
(D)
6.26
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

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

804,545

768,252

5,208,055

4,963,929

6.47

6.46

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

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States: June
and July 2021
[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

June

July

June

July

June

July

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

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

440,830
453,059
106,766
(D)
186,967
(D)
491,493

402,083
431,631
95,608
(D)
175,826
(D)
469,459

2,093
1,809
1,289
(D)
633
(D)
3,147

1,701
1,636
967
(D)
588
(D)
2,905

0.47
(X)
(X)
0.40
1.19
(D)
(X)
0.34
(D)
0.64

0.42
(X)
(X)
0.38
1.00
(D)
(X)
0.33
(D)
0.62

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

(D)
(D)
21,528
(D)
(D)
124,212
80,888
(D)
57,748

(D)
(D)
22,203
(D)
(D)
113,440
74,892
(D)
56,489

(D)
(D)
124
(D)
(D)
545
355
(D)
311

(D)
(D)
154
(D)
(D)
544
366
(D)
290

(X)
(D)
(D)
0.57
(D)
(D)
0.44
0.44
(D)
0.54

(X)
(D)
(D)
0.69
(D)
(D)
0.48
0.49
(D)
0.51

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

(D)
(D)
276,162
139,498
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
263,904
132,106
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
1,141
515
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
1,073
391
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
0.41
0.37
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
0.41
0.30
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)

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

7,094
518,286
(D)
52,643
(D)
48,501
(D)
142,567

7,260
494,646
(D)
54,574
(D)
46,769
(D)
143,758

90
1,717
(D)
231
(D)
759
(D)
868

78
1,522
(D)
224
(D)
804
(D)
924

(X)
1.26
0.33
(X)
(D)
0.44
(D)
1.54
(D)
0.61

(X)
1.06
0.31
(X)
(D)
0.41
(D)
1.69
(D)
0.64

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

(D)
119,555
315,236
(D)
136,534
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
115,761
324,126
(D)
126,089
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
450
1,396
(D)
360
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
565
1,356
(D)
346
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
0.37
0.44
(X)
(D)
0.26
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)

(D)
0.49
0.42
(X)
(D)
0.27
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)

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

3,923,558

3,744,373

19,675

18,367

0.50

0.49

- 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 (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause – States and United States: June and July 2021
[Published States do not add to United States total to avoid disclosure]
State

Tuberculosis

Septicaemia

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

Leukosis

June

-

-

64
36
40
8
34
68
95
13

77
36
44
3
34
68
98
4

31,230
31,014
15,503
43,997
9,749
41,380
55,420
17,752

27,386
30,967
16,197
47,425
9,749
41,381
54,781
17,354

-

-

942

1,016

493,081

479,264

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

26,550
6,714
10,171
73,015
5,237
10,573
16,273
10,045

26,198
6,759
9,787
67,954
5,237
10,573
16,274
8,767

93
75
23
60
10
47
128
9

85
74
24
70
10
47
150
3

1,187
1,001
239
1,603
568
903
880
150

1,170
1,001
213
1,702
568
903
882
133

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

248,438

237,119

1,220

1,165

12,400

11,849

State

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

593
162
410
838
433
359
360
791

612
167
441
511
433
359
390
921

3,008
2,795
714
7,566
1,885
3,640
317
554

2,856
2,795
734
7,368
1,885
3,640
328
428

12,341
3,266
2,187
11,240
787
2,123
3,765
1,521

11,952
3,292
2,247
12,942
787
2,123
3,977
1,617

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

7,029

6,794

31,394

31,486

72,874

75,224

State

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

June

July

June

July

June

July

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

(head)

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

442
1,794
1,406
10,820
1,015
1,986
795
575

402
1,793
1,611
8,799
1,015
1,986
1,975
386

62,852
81,321
3,904
126,338
5,717
19,711
18,351
10,684

42,614
81,294
3,768
133,601
5,717
19,711
18,132
11,950

138,360
128,178
34,597
275,485
25,435
80,790
96,384
42,094

113,352
128,178
35,066
280,375
25,435
80,791
96,987
41,563

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

29,982

28,493

641,424

623,325

1,538,784

1,495,735

- 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 (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Young Turkeys Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and United States:
June and July 2021
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Total
live weight

Slaughtered

State

Average
live weight

June

July

June

July

June

July

(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)
2,987
(D)
(D)

(D)
2,636
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
61,495
(D)
(D)

(D)
55,570
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
20.59
(D)
(D)

(D)
21.08
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
1
2,180
(D)
-

(D)
(Z)
2,079
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
22
89,764
(D)
-

(D)
7
82,832
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
27.99
41.18
(D)
-

(D)
31.99
39.84
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
4,119
831
(D)

(D)
3,972
796
(D)

(D)
98,979
30,558
(D)

(D)
94,107
26,449
(D)

(D)
24.03
36.78
(D)

(D)
23.69
33.24
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
549
624
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
518
587
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
25,081
18,220
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
23,946
17,718
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
45.66
29.21
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
46.25
30.16
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

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

18,902

17,842

605,013

570,399

32.01

31.97

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(Z) Less than half of the unit shown.

10

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Turkeys Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States: June
and July 2021
[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

June

July

June

July

June

July

(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)
51,241
(D)
(D)

(D)
46,227
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
455
(D)
(D)

(D)
351
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(X)
(X)
0.88
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)

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

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

(D)
17
72,272
(D)
-

(D)
5
66,596
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
852
(D)
-

(D)
821
(D)
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(X)
1.17
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)

(X)
(D)
(X)
1.22
(D)
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)

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

(D)
79,184
24,990
(D)

(D)
75,275
21,355
(D)

(D)
1,004
295
(D)

(D)
908
262
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.25
(X)
1.17
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.19
(X)
1.21
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
20,048
14,316
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
19,131
14,063
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
249
289
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
269
328
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
(X)
1.23
(X)
(X)
1.98
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
(X)
1.39
(X)
(X)
2.28
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
-

(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

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

483,639

455,304

6,180

5,717

1.26

1.24

- 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 (August 2021)
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 (August 2021)
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 361 plants slaughtered poultry in the United
States under Federal Inspection in 2020. Young chickens were slaughtered in 38 States, young turkeys in 31 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) 692-0069
Jean Porter, 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, Mink, Census of Aquaculture ....................................................... (202) 720-8784
Fatema Haque – Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ............................................................................... (202) 720-3244
Derron Martin – Chicken Hatchery, Egg Products ................................................................................. (202) 690-3237
Seth Riggins – Honey, Honey Bee Colonies ......................................................................................... (202) 690-4870
Autumn Stone – Layers, Eggs ............................................................................................................... (202) 690-3676
Takiyah Walker – Broiler Hatchery ....................................................................................................... (202) 720-6147

Poultry Slaughter (August 2021)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Access to NASS Reports
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