WASHINGTON – For the month of September, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.75 billion lbs., up 5% from the amount certified in September 2009, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture. The August 2010 revised certified total at 3.74 billion lbs. was up 6% from August 2009. The August revision represented an increase of 12.2 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

During September, the preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry was 4.98 billion lbs., up 5% from 4.77 billion lbs. a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.31 billion lbs., up 5% from September 2009. Totaling 72.2 million lbs., mature chickens were up 6% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 584 million lbs., down slightly from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.3 million lbs., up 9% from last year.


During September, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.73 lbs. per bird, up 2% from September 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.72 lbs. per bird, up slightly from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during September 2010 averaged 28.5 lbs. per bird, down 1% from September 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during September 2010 totaled 11.4 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.23% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.23% a year earlier. Totaling 34.1 million lbs., post-mortem condemnations, were 0.90% of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.97% a year earlier.