WASHINGTON – Ready-to-cook poultry weight in July climbed 1 percent to 3.89 billion lbs., while the preliminary live weight total of all federally inspected poultry gained 1 percent to reach 5.13 billion lbs. for the month, the US Department of Agriculture said in its Poultry Slaughter report.

Young chickens inspected totaled 4.42 billion lbs., up 1 percent from a year ago, while mature chickens advanced 2 percent to 69.5 million lbs., USDA reported. Young chickens slaughtered during July were heavier. Slaughter weights averaged 5.95 lbs. per bird, up 2 percent from July 2013. Mature chickens averaged 5.92 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago.


Turkey inspections were down 3 percent during July to 626 million lbs., according to USDA figures. Turkeys slaughtered for the month averaged 30.1 lbs. per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago.

Ducks totaled 15.7 million lbs., up 10 percent from July 2013.

Ante-mortem condemnations during July 2014 totaled 11.3 million lbs., USDA reported. Condemnations were 0.22 percent of the live weight inspected compared to 0.21 percent a year ago. Post-mortem condemnations totaled 36.9 million lbs., which were 0.94 percent of quantities inspected compared to 0.87 percent in July 2013.