WASHINGTON – During April, poultry certified wholesome (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.54 billion lbs., up slightly from the amount certified in April 2009, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The March 2010 revised certified total at 3.70 billion lbs. was up 5% from March 2009. The March revision represented an increase of 677,000 lbs. from last month's preliminary pounds certified.

Down slightly from a year ago, the preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April was 4.70 billion lbs. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.05 billion lbs., up 1% from April 2009. Totaling 65.3 million lbs., mature chickens were down 7% from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 568 million lbs., down 5% from a year ago.


Ducks totaled 13.4 million lbs., up 5% from last year.

During April, young chickens slaughtered averaged 5.68 lbs, per bird, up 2% from April 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.34 lbs. per bird, down 8% from a year ago.

Turkeys slaughtered during April averaged 29.7 lbs. per bird, up 1% from April 2009.

Ante-mortem condemnations during April 2010 totaled 10.3 million lbs. Condemnations were 0.22% of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.26% one year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.6 million lbs., were 0.97% of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.07% a year earlier.