June poultry production up 2% from last year

Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 10:29 AM

by John Perkins

Brownfield

The United States Department of Agriculture reports that the total amount of poultry certified wholesome during June 2008 was 3.663 billion pounds of ready to cook weight, down 2% from May's 3.740 billion pounds and up 2% from the June 2007 total of 3.592 billion pounds. The year to date figure is 21.989 billion pounds, 5% more than the January to June 2007 total of 20.916 billion pounds.

The bulk of the total was made up by chicken at 3.130 billion pounds, 3% below last month but 2% above last year. Most of that were young chickens at 3.081 billion pounds. Turkeys accounted for 523.826 million pounds, 1% more than May and up 3% from June 2007. Ducks were pegged at 8.961 million pounds, down 2% from a month ago and 15% less than a year ago.

There were 761.240 million chicken slaughtered in June, compared to May's 775.680 million head and June 2007's 760.589 million. The year to date slaughter is 3% ahead of 2007 at 4.584 billion head. The turkey slaughter was 2% larger than both last month and last year at 656.451 million head, bringing the year to date total to 132.805 million head. The duck slaughter of 1.865 million head was down 2% from last month and 15% less than last year. So far this year, duck slaughter is 12.038 million head, 13% below the year ago cumulative.

The total live weight of all poultry slaughtered was 4.905 billion pounds, compared to 5.011 billion for May and 4.840 billion during June 2007. The January to June 2008 total is 29.535 billion pounds, compared to 28.240 billion for January to June 2007.

Chickens made up 4.236 million pounds of the live weight estimate. That's 3% less than a month ago but 1% more than a year ago. Turkeys were placed at 656.451 million pounds, compared to 652.252 million for May and 640.161 million in June 2007. Ducks made up most of the remainder at 12.406 million head, 2% under last month and 16% less than last year.

The average live weight for all chickens was 5.57 pounds per bird, .03 lighter than May but .07 heavier than June 2007. The year to date average is 5.57 pounds per bird, compared to 5.49 for the first half of 2007. The average live weight for all turkeys was 28.71 pounds per bird, compared to 29.00 last month and 28.48 last year. Ducks were reported at 6.65 pounds per bird, slightly lighter than a month ago and down .08 from a year ago.

Ante-mortem condemnations came out at 16.657 million pounds or .34% of the live weight. Post-mortem condemnations totaled 42.435 million pounds, 1.15% of inspected poultry.

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