051235 USDA Slaughter: Turkey & Chicken Weights UpDecember 31, 2005Poultry certified wholesome during November 2005 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.47 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the amount certified in November 2004. Updated totals for October 2005 show that 3.58 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during November 2005 was 4.63 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 4.46 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.94 billion pounds, up 5 percent from November 2004, but mature chickens at 65.1 million pounds, were down 1 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 608 million pounds, down slightly. Ducks totaled 17.0 million pounds, up 15 percent from last year. Young chickens slaughtered during November 2005 averaged 5.49 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from November 2004. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.76 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 2005 averaged 26.8 pounds per bird, 2 percent above November 2004. Ante-mortem condemnations during November 2005 totaled 15.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, compared to 0.38 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 44.1 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.06 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.20 percent a year earlier.
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