WASHINGTON – For the month of November, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.70 billion lbs., up 12% from the amount certified in November 2009, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The October 2010 revised certified total at 3.76 billion lbs., was up 3% from October 2009. The October revision represented an increase of 3.0 million lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

During November, the preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry was 4.90 billion lbs., up 12% from 4.39 billion lbs. a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.17 billion lbs., up 12% from November 2009. Mature chickens, at 63.5 million lbs., were up 18% from the previous year.


Turkey inspections totaled 650 million lbs., up 9% from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.8 million lbs., up 9% from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during November 2010 averaged 5.88 lbs. per bird, up 4% from November 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.19 lbs. per bird, up 8% from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2010 averaged 28.2 lbs. per bird, up 2%
from November 2009.

During November, ante-mortem condemnations totaled 10.9 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.22% a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 35.9 million lbs., were 0.96% of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.97% a year earlier.