WASHINGTON – Ready-to-cook poultry weight during May 2012 increased 1 percent compared to May 2011, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Board (NASS).

NASS said RTC weights totaled 3.86 billion lbs. in May, while the April 2012 totals were revised down to 3.52 billion lbs., up 1 percent from April 2011. The revision reflects a decrease of 548,000 lbs. from the previous month’s preliminary pounds certified, according to NASS.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry during May climbed 1 percent to 5.11 billion lbs., up from 5.04 billion lbs. in 2011, according to NASS. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.37 billion lbs., which represents a 1 percent increase from 2011 totals. Mature chickens rose 6 percent to 74.8 million lbs.

NASS said turkey inspections totaled 651 million lbs., a 5 percent increase from 2011. Totals for ducks climbed 2 percent to 14.3 million lbs.

Young chickens slaughtered during May averaged 5.83 lbs. per bird, a slight increase from May 2011, according to NASS. The average live weight of mature chickens totaled 5.27 lbs. per bird, down 6 percent from 2011. Turkeys slaughtered averaged 29.8 lbs. per bird, a decrease of 1 percent from May 2011, NASS said.

Ante-mortem condemnations during May totaled 10.1 million lbs., which accounted for 0.20 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.21 percent in 2011. Post-mortem condemnations were 35.9 million lbs., which represented 0.92 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.96 percent in 2011, according to NASS.