Poultry Slaughter

0
845
ISSN: 1949-1581

Released February 25, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 5 Percent from Last Year

January 2014 contained 23 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays. 
January 2015 contained 22 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.

Poultry certified wholesome during January 2015 (ready-to-cook weight) 
totaled 3.87 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the amount certified in 
January 2014. The December 2014 revised certified total at 
3.88 billion pounds, was up 9 percent from December 2013. The December 
revision represented an increase of 1.67 million pounds from last month's 
preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during 
January 2015 was 5.13 billion pounds, up 5 percent from 4.88 billion pounds a 
year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.43 billion pounds, up 5 percent 
from January 2014. Mature chickens, at 66.0 million pounds, were down 
5 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 
615 million pounds, up 8 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 
16.2 million pounds, up 10 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during January 2015 averaged 6.12 pounds per bird, 
up 2 percent from January 2014. The average live weight of mature chickens 
was 5.53 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered 
during January 2015 averaged 31.5 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from 
January 2014.

Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2015 totaled 12.5 million pounds. 
Condemnations were 0.24 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared 
with 0.24 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 
41.4 million pounds, were 1.06 percent of quantities inspected, as compared 
with 1.01 percent a year earlier.

Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type - United States
[Federally inspected only]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :            :            :            : January 2015 as % of  :          January          :        
                    :            :            :            :-----------------------:        to January         :2015 as 
      Commodity     :  January   :  December  :  January   :  January  : December  :---------------------------:percent 
                    :    2014    :    2014    :    2015    :   2014    :   2014    :    2014     :    2015     :of 2014 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    : ------------ 1,000 head -----------       --- percent ---       ------ 1,000 head -----   percent 
                    :                                                                                                   
Number slaughtered  :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   704,432      728,499      724,584       103          99         704,432       724,584     103   
  Mature ...........:    12,721       12,415       11,948        94          96          12,721        11,948      94   
    Light ..........:     7,008        6,465        6,310        90          98           7,008         6,310      90   
    Heavy ..........:     5,713        5,950        5,638        99          95           5,713         5,638      99   
  Total ............:   717,153      740,914      736,532       103          99         717,153       736,532     103   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:    18,118       19,006       19,404       107         102          18,118        19,404     107   
  Old ..............:       133          138          125        94          91             133           125      94   
  Total ............:    18,251       19,144       19,529       107         102          18,251        19,529     107   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:     2,158        2,513        2,371       110          94           2,158         2,371     110   
                    :                                                                                                   
                    : ----------- 1,000 pounds ----------       --- percent ---       ----- 1,000 pounds ----   percent 
                    :                                                                                                   
Total live weight   :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............: 4,226,487    4,445,747    4,432,569       105         100       4,226,487     4,432,569     105   
  Mature ...........:    69,402       69,426       66,019        95          95          69,402        66,019      95   
    Light ..........:    22,875       21,082       20,229        88          96          22,875        20,229      88   
    Heavy ..........:    46,527       48,344       45,790        98          95          46,527        45,790      98   
  Total ............: 4,295,889    4,515,173    4,498,588       105         100       4,295,889     4,498,588     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   564,262      590,747      611,542       108         104         564,262       611,542     108   
  Old ..............:     3,504        3,782        3,568       102          94           3,504         3,568     102   
  Total ............:   567,766      594,529      615,110       108         103         567,766       615,110     108   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:    14,826       17,370       16,248       110          94          14,826        16,248     110   
                    :                                                                                                   
Other 1/ ...........:       180          229          193       107          84             180           193     107   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total ..............: 4,878,661    5,127,301    5,130,139       105         100       4,878,661     5,130,139     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
                    :     ------------ pounds -----------       --- percent ---           ------ pounds -----   percent 
                    :                                                                                                   
Average live weight :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:      6.00         6.10         6.12       102         100            6.00          6.12     102   
  Mature ...........:      5.46         5.59         5.53       101          99            5.46          5.53     101   
    Light ..........:      3.26         3.26         3.21        98          98            3.26          3.21      98   
    Heavy ..........:      8.14         8.13         8.12       100         100            8.14          8.12     100   
  Total ............:      5.99         6.09         6.11       102         100            5.99          6.11     102   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:     31.14        31.08        31.52       101         101           31.14         31.52     101   
  Old ..............:     26.35        27.41        28.54       108         104           26.35         28.54     108   
  Total ............:     31.11        31.06        31.50       101         101           31.11         31.50     101   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:      6.87         6.91         6.85       100          99            6.87          6.85     100   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Includes geese, guineas, ostriches, emus, rheas, and squab.                                                          

Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type - United States
[Ready-to-cook weights]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :            :            :            : January 2015 as % of  :          January          :        
                    :            :            :            :-----------------------:        to January         :2015 as 
      Commodity     :  January   :  December  :  January   :  January  : December  :---------------------------:percent 
                    :    2014    :    2014    :    2015    :   2014    :   2014    :    2014     :    2015     :of 2014 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    : ----------- 1,000 pounds ----------       --- percent ---       ----- 1,000 pounds ----   percent 
                    :                                                                                                   
Chilled             :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............: 2,902,307    3,052,182    3,044,909       105         100       2,902,307     3,044,909     105   
  Mature ...........:    43,208       44,191       41,333        96          94          43,208        41,333      96   
    Light ..........:    12,011       11,529       10,825        90          94          12,011        10,825      90   
    Heavy ..........:    31,197       32,662       30,508        98          93          31,197        30,508      98   
  Total ............: 2,945,515    3,096,373    3,086,242       105         100       2,945,515     3,086,242     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   264,309      289,225      291,542       110         101         264,309       291,542     110   
  Old ..............:     2,428        2,709        2,295        95          85           2,428         2,295      95   
  Total ............:   266,737      291,934      293,837       110         101         266,737       293,837     110   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:     4,499        4,890        4,321        96          88           4,499         4,321      96   
                    :                                                                                                   
Other 1/ ...........:       122          156          127       104          81             122           127     104   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total ..............: 3,216,873    3,393,353    3,384,527       105         100       3,216,873     3,384,527     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Frozen              :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   273,595      296,301      283,017       103          96         273,595       283,017     103   
  Mature ...........:         -          145            -       (X)         (X)               -             -     (X)   
    Light ..........:         -          143            -       (X)         (X)               -             -     (X)   
    Heavy ..........:         -            2            -       (X)         (X)               -             -     (X)   
  Total ............:   273,595      296,446      283,017       103          95         273,595       283,017     103   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   187,035      182,840      198,092       106         108         187,035       198,092     106   
  Old ..............:       206          141          385       187         273             206           385     187   
  Total ............:   187,241      182,981      198,477       106         108         187,241       198,477     106   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:     6,257        7,688        7,390       118          96           6,257         7,390     118   
                    :                                                                                                   
Other 1/ ...........:         6            8            7       117          88               6             7     117   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total ..............:   467,099      487,123      488,891       105         100         467,099       488,891     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Chilled and frozen  :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............: 3,175,902    3,348,483    3,327,926       105          99       3,175,902     3,327,926     105   
  Mature ...........:    43,208       44,336       41,333        96          93          43,208        41,333      96   
    Light ..........:    12,011       11,672       10,825        90          93          12,011        10,825      90   
    Heavy ..........:    31,197       32,664       30,508        98          93          31,197        30,508      98   
  Total ............: 3,219,110    3,392,819    3,369,259       105          99       3,219,110     3,369,259     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   451,344      472,065      489,634       108         104         451,344       489,634     108   
  Old ..............:     2,634        2,850        2,680       102          94           2,634         2,680     102   
  Total ............:   453,978      474,915      492,314       108         104         453,978       492,314     108   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:    10,756       12,578       11,711       109          93          10,756        11,711     109   
                    :                                                                                                   
Other 1/ ...........:       128          164          134       105          82             128           134     105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total ..............: 3,683,972    3,880,476    3,873,418       105         100       3,683,972     3,873,418     105   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-   Represents zero.                                                                                                    
(X) Not applicable.                                                                                                     
1/  Includes geese, guineas, and squab.                                                                                 

Ante-Mortem Condemnations by Type - United States
[Federally inspected only]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :            :            :            : January 2015 as % of  :          January          :        
                    :            :            :            :-----------------------:        to January         :2015 as 
      Commodity     :  January   :  December  :  January   :  January  : December  :---------------------------:percent 
                    :    2014    :    2014    :    2015    :   2014    :   2014    :    2014     :    2015     :of 2014 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :   --------- 1,000 pounds ---------        --- percent ---        --- 1,000 pounds ---     percent 
                    :                                                                                                   
Live weight         :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:    9,236        9,722       10,061        109         103         9,236        10,061       109   
  Mature ...........:      732          724          755        103         104           732           755       103   
    Light ..........:      322          283          298         93         105           322           298        93   
    Heavy ..........:      410          441          457        111         104           410           457       111   
  Total ............:    9,968       10,446       10,816        109         104         9,968        10,816       109   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys ............:                                                                                                   
  Young ............:    1,509        1,503        1,580        105         105         1,509         1,580       105   
  Old ..............:       43           52           51        119          98            43            51       119   
  Total ............:    1,552        1,555        1,631        105         105         1,552         1,631       105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:       44           31           47        107         152            44            47       107   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total 2/ ...........:   11,564       12,032       12,494        108         104        11,564        12,494       108   
                    :                                                                                                   
                    :                                              percent                                              
                    :                                                                                                   
Percent of live     :                                                                                                   
weight condemned 1/ :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:     0.22         0.22         0.23        105         105          0.22          0.23       105   
  Mature ...........:     1.05         1.04         1.14        109         110          1.05          1.14       109   
    Light ..........:     1.41         1.34         1.47        104         110          1.41          1.47       104   
    Heavy ..........:     0.88         0.91         1.00        114         110          0.88          1.00       114   
  Total ............:     0.23         0.23         0.24        104         104          0.23          0.24       104   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:     0.27         0.25         0.26         96         104          0.27          0.26        96   
  Old ..............:     1.23         1.37         1.43        116         104          1.23          1.43       116   
  Total ............:     0.27         0.26         0.27        100         104          0.27          0.27       100   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:     0.30         0.18         0.29         97         161          0.30          0.29        97   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total 2/ ...........:     0.24         0.23         0.24        100         104          0.24          0.24       100   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected.                                                       
2/ Includes geese, guineas, and squab.                                                                                  

Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type - United States
[Federally inspected only]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :            :            :            : January 2015 as % of  :          January          :        
                    :            :            :            :-----------------------:        to January         :2015 as 
      Commodity     :  January   :  December  :  January   :  January  : December  :---------------------------:percent 
                    :    2014    :    2014    :    2015    :   2014    :   2014    :    2014     :    2015     :of 2014 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :   --------- 1,000 pounds ---------        --- percent ---        --- 1,000 pounds ---     percent 
                    :                                                                                                   
Carcass and parts   :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:   28,829       31,004       31,752        110         102        28,829        31,752       110   
  Mature ...........:    1,985        2,468        2,333        118          95         1,985         2,333       118   
    Light ..........:      909          796          918        101         115           909           918       101   
    Heavy ..........:    1,076        1,672        1,415        132          85         1,076         1,415       132   
  Total ............:   30,814       33,472       34,085        111         102        30,814        34,085       111   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:    6,401        7,032        6,879        107          98         6,401         6,879       107   
  Old ..............:      140          155          135         96          87           140           135        96   
  Total ............:    6,541        7,187        7,014        107          98         6,541         7,014       107   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:      265          344          308        116          90           265           308       116   
                    :                                                                                                   
Other ..............:        1            2            1        100          50             1             1       100   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total ..............:   37,621       41,005       41,408        110         101        37,621        41,408       110   
                    :                                                                                                   
                    :                                              percent                                              
                    :                                                                                                   
Percent of          :                                                                                                   
weight condemned 1/ :                                                                                                   
Chickens            :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:     0.90         0.92         0.95        106         103          0.90          0.95       106   
  Mature ...........:     4.39         5.27         5.34        122         101          4.39          5.34       122   
    Light ..........:     7.04         6.38         7.82        111         123          7.04          7.82       111   
    Heavy ..........:     3.33         4.87         4.43        133          91          3.33          4.43       133   
  Total ............:     0.95         0.98         1.00        105         102          0.95          1.00       105   
                    :                                                                                                   
Turkeys             :                                                                                                   
  Young ............:     1.40         1.47         1.39         99          95          1.40          1.39        99   
  Old ..............:     5.05         5.16         4.80         95          93          5.05          4.80        95   
  Total ............:     1.42         1.49         1.40         99          94          1.42          1.40        99   
                    :                                                                                                   
Ducks ..............:     2.40         2.66         2.56        107          96          2.40          2.56       107   
                    :                                                                                                   
Other ..............:     0.78         1.20         0.74         95          62          0.78          0.74        95   
                    :                                                                                                   
Total ..............:     1.01         1.05         1.06        105         101          1.01          1.06       105   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.                                    

Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause and Type - United States: December 2014
and January 2015
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Commodity     :    Tuberculosis     :      Leukosis       :     Septicaemia     
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Chickens           :                                                                 
  Young ...........:    -          -        4,318      4,113      959,425    980,097 
  Mature ..........:    -          -          363        359      153,295    149,286 
    Light .........:    -          -          267        256      119,368    115,599 
    Heavy .........:    -          -           96        103       33,927     33,687 
  Total ...........:    -          -        4,681      4,472    1,112,720  1,129,383 
                   :                                                                 
Turkeys            :                                                                 
  Young ...........:    -          -           64         58       43,621     38,907 
  Old .............:    -          -            1          3        1,140      1,011 
  Total ...........:    -          -           65         61       44,761     39,918 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Commodity     :    Airsacculitis    :      Synovitis      :       Tumors        
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Chickens           :                                                                 
  Young ...........: 700,080    773,168     13,748     6,620      21,620     20,009  
  Mature ..........:  21,678     20,555        196       165      34,478     35,021  
    Light .........:   6,523      6,091         97        96      26,486     26,728  
    Heavy .........:  15,155     14,464         99        69       7,992      8,293  
  Total ...........: 721,758    793,723     13,944     6,785      56,098     55,030  
                   :                                                                 
Turkeys            :                                                                 
  Young ...........:   4,724      4,584        418       900          35         39  
  Old .............:     396        186         15         2         176        105  
  Total ...........:   5,120      4,770        433       902         211        144  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Commodity     :       Bruises       :       Cadaver       :    Contamination    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Chickens           :                                                                 
  Young ...........:  13,407     12,810     59,443     64,044    102,648     99,340  
  Mature ..........:   9,785     12,780      1,815      1,635     69,366     72,234  
    Light .........:   9,413     12,392      1,326      1,185     62,414     65,456  
    Heavy .........:     372        388        489        450      6,952      6,778  
  Total ...........:  23,192     25,590     61,258     65,679    172,014    171,574  
                   :                                                                 
Turkeys            :                                                                 
  Young ...........:     122         98        983      1,200      1,893      1,701  
  Old .............:      24         25          3          1         62         48  
  Total ...........:     146        123        986      1,201      1,955      1,749  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Commodity     :      Overscald      :  Miscellaneous 1/   :        Total        
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Chickens           :                                                                 
  Young ...........:  17,653     23,475    660,262    699,834   2,552,604  2,683,510 
  Mature ..........:     192        207     99,582     99,602     390,750    391,844 
    Light .........:     110         84     39,885     46,295     265,889    274,182 
    Heavy .........:      82        123     59,697     53,307     124,861    117,662 
  Total ...........:  17,845     23,682    759,844    799,436   2,943,354  3,075,354 
                   :                                                                 
Turkeys            :                                                                 
  Young ...........:     540        654      6,657      6,825      59,057     54,966 
  Old .............:       7         16        275        316       2,099      1,713 
  Total ...........:     547        670      6,932      7,141      61,156     56,679 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  Represents zero.                                                                  
1/ Includes any portion of the carcass affected by an inflammatory process,          
   plant-rejected carcasses, missing viscera, or ascites fluid preventing proper     
   inspection of the carcass.                                                        

Young Chickens, Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight - States
and United States: December 2014 and January 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :         Number          :          Total          :       Average       
                 :       slaughtered       :       live weight       :     live weight     
      State      :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :  December  :  January   :  December  :  January   : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :  ---- 1,000 head ----     ---- 1,000 pounds ----     ----- pounds ----  
                 :                                                                         
Alabama .........:   86,053       85,041       492,447      486,006       5.72       5.71  
Alaska ..........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Arizona .........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Arkansas ........:   77,110       76,635       489,070      497,046       6.34       6.49  
California ......:   20,405       22,442       123,747      136,397       6.06       6.08  
Colorado ........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Connecticut .....:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Delaware ........:   27,779       29,285       199,129      210,660       7.17       7.19  
Florida .........:    5,145        5,988        29,268       34,526       5.69       5.77  
Georgia .........:  107,945      104,660       632,687      610,945       5.86       5.84  
                 :                                                                         
Hawaii ..........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Idaho ...........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Illinois ........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Indiana .........:    5,069        5,267        22,734       23,648       4.49       4.49  
Iowa ............:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Kansas ..........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Kentucky ........:   24,702       25,650       140,191      150,600       5.68       5.87  
Louisiana .......:   15,897       16,404        94,425       97,982       5.94       5.97  
Maine ...........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Maryland ........:   13,057       13,426        72,974       75,385       5.59       5.61  
                 :                                                                         
Massachusetts ...:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Michigan ........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Minnesota .......:    4,382        3,985        26,525       23,229       6.05       5.83  
Mississippi .....:   60,196       58,337       382,579      369,455       6.36       6.33  
Missouri ........:   37,470       36,559       181,331      174,764       4.84       4.78  
Montana .........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Nebraska ........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Nevada ..........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
New Hampshire ...:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
New Jersey ......:      116           97           555          464       4.77       4.77  
                 :                                                                         
New Mexico ......:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
New York ........:    2,155        1,919        10,849        9,712       5.03       5.06  
North Carolina ..:   64,278       65,829       500,150      514,314       7.78       7.81  
North Dakota ....:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Ohio ............:    6,704        6,702        38,053       38,507       5.68       5.75  
Oklahoma ........:   11,239        8,978        73,924       57,536       6.58       6.41  
Oregon ..........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Pennsylvania ....:    9,176        9,371        50,760       51,647       5.53       5.51  
Rhode Island ....:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
South Carolina ..:   24,490       23,890       178,201      172,037       7.28       7.20  
                 :                                                                         
South Dakota ....:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Tennessee .......:   24,757       24,938       131,575      133,163       5.31       5.34  
Texas ...........:   51,531       50,556       321,246      312,986       6.23       6.19  
Utah ............:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
Vermont .........:      (D)          (D)           (D)          (D)        (D)        (D)  
Virginia ........:   28,424       28,542       157,952      157,687       5.56       5.52  
Washington ......:    4,220        4,391        26,395       27,377       6.25       6.23  
West Virginia ...:    9,399        9,191        36,341       35,713       3.87       3.89  
Wisconsin .......:    4,374        4,272        18,256       17,703       4.17       4.14  
Wyoming .........:        -            -             -            -          -          -  
                 :                                                                         
United States ...:  728,499      724,584     4,445,747    4,432,569       6.10       6.12  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-   Represents zero.                                                                       
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                           

Young Chickens, Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations - States and United States:
December 2014 and January 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                         :           Post-mortem condemnations           
                 :Total chilled and frozen :-----------------------------------------------
      State      :   pounds certified 1/   :    Carcass and parts    :     Percent 2/      
                 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :  December  :  January   :  December  :  January   : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 : ----------------- 1,000 pounds ----------------      ---- percent ----  
                 :                                                                         
Alabama .........:   375,032      370,712       3,386        3,560        0.89       0.95  
Alaska ..........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Arizona .........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Arkansas ........:   370,582      374,582       3,910        4,322        1.04       1.14  
California ......:    92,278      101,624         788          806        0.85       0.79  
Colorado ........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Connecticut .....:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Delaware ........:   144,271      152,469       1,907        1,940        1.30       1.26  
Florida .........:    21,951       25,895         167          178        0.76       0.68  
Georgia .........:   478,867      455,160       4,430        4,393        0.92       0.96  
                 :                                                                         
Hawaii ..........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Idaho ...........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Illinois ........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Indiana .........:    16,533       17,188         165          161        0.99       0.93  
Iowa ............:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Kansas ..........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Kentucky ........:   101,658      109,045       1,317        1,317        1.28       1.19  
Louisiana .......:    71,266       73,916         538          542        0.75       0.73  
Maine ...........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Maryland ........:    53,117       54,940         744          829        1.38       1.49  
                 :                                                                         
Massachusetts ...:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Michigan ........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Minnesota .......:    22,524       19,835         199          178        0.88       0.89  
Mississippi .....:   293,739      283,570       2,260        2,138        0.76       0.75  
Missouri ........:   138,217      130,945       1,360        1,330        0.97       1.01  
Montana .........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Nebraska ........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Nevada ..........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
New Hampshire ...:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
New Jersey ......:       388          326           7            5        1.66       1.46  
                 :                                                                         
New Mexico ......:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
New York ........:     6,730        6,030         187          179        2.70       2.88  
North Carolina ..:   389,513      401,044       3,566        3,638        0.91       0.90  
North Dakota ....:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Ohio ............:    28,460       28,900         311          325        1.08       1.11  
Oklahoma ........:    55,549       43,355         448          409        0.80       0.94  
Oregon ..........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Pennsylvania ....:    33,989       34,965         634          652        1.83       1.83  
Rhode Island ....:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
South Carolina ..:   133,726      129,437         769          745        0.57       0.57  
                 :                                                                         
South Dakota ....:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Tennessee .......:    96,435       97,750         833          967        0.86       0.98  
Texas ...........:   242,170      236,297       1,608        1,668        0.66       0.70  
Utah ............:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
Vermont .........:       (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Virginia ........:   112,166      111,750         896          953        0.79       0.85  
Washington ......:    19,664       20,442         164          111        0.83       0.54  
West Virginia ...:    26,050       25,604          70           73        0.27       0.29  
Wisconsin .......:    13,331       12,929         145          152        1.08       1.16  
Wyoming .........:         -            -           -            -         (X)        (X)  
                 :                                                                         
United States ...: 3,348,483    3,327,926      31,004       31,752        0.92       0.95  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-   Represents zero.                                                                       
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                           
(X) Not applicable.                                                                        
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.                                                                 
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.        

Young Chickens, Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause - States and United States:
December 2014 and January 2015
[Published States do not add to United States total to avoid disclosure]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       State       :    Tuberculosis     :      Leukosis       :     Septicaemia     
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Alabama ...........:    -          -          258        245     103,301     98,801  
Arkansas ..........:    -          -          387        252      85,665     94,543  
Delaware ..........:    -          -          623        877      73,339     75,049  
Georgia ...........:    -          -          148        155      97,623    104,435  
Mississippi .......:    -          -          122        111      23,887     24,067  
Missouri ..........:    -          -           37         30      58,678     58,362  
North Carolina ....:    -          -          236        278      92,623     98,172  
Texas .............:    -          -           32         29      73,841     72,743  
Virginia ..........:    -          -           84         68      23,975     25,483  
                   :                                                                 
United States .....:    -          -        4,318      4,113     959,425    980,097  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       State       :    Airsacculitis    :      Synovitis      :       Tumors        
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Alabama ...........:  52,089     49,700        431       319       1,526      1,475  
Arkansas ..........:  41,259     42,969      1,258     1,121       1,260      1,064  
Delaware ..........:  85,268     94,015         54        33       2,253      2,521  
Georgia ...........: 119,776    120,851        330       251       3,641      3,323  
Mississippi .......:  14,637     17,129         53        24         469        475  
Missouri ..........:  22,647     26,124         25        25         486        537  
North Carolina ....:  64,262     75,328        177       255       3,251      3,346  
Texas .............:  27,281     34,493         59       105         738        802  
Virginia ..........:  38,633     45,156          5        11         784        828  
                   :                                                                 
United States .....: 700,080    773,168     13,748     6,620      21,620     20,009  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       State       :       Bruises       :       Cadaver       :    Contamination    
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Alabama ...........:   1,344      1,276      7,425      7,897     19,237     19,038  
Arkansas ..........:     434        568      5,474      6,083      6,832      6,195  
Delaware ..........:   1,403      1,472      1,582      1,566      5,196      5,403  
Georgia ...........:     854        979     14,385     15,209      9,795      9,749  
Mississippi .......:     405        313      1,751      1,879      1,440      1,246  
Missouri ..........:     264        256        970      1,039      2,694      3,131  
North Carolina ....:     926      1,000     11,484     12,717      5,217      5,800  
Texas .............:     533        466      1,319      1,287      4,699      4,966  
Virginia ..........:     859        930        477        583      2,390      2,858  
                   :                                                                 
United States .....:  13,407     12,810     59,443     64,044    102,648     99,340  

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       State       :      Overscald      :  Miscellaneous 1/   :        Total        
                   :-----------------------------------------------------------------
                   : December : January  : December : January  : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :                           number head                           
                   :                                                                 
Alabama ...........:   1,825      1,528     74,805     82,124     262,241    262,403 
Arkansas ..........:   1,453      1,252     32,541     35,704     176,563    189,751 
Delaware ..........:   2,362      2,515     28,601     22,872     200,681    206,323 
Georgia ...........:   2,642      3,879    118,931    120,514     368,125    379,345 
Mississippi .......:     576        183     14,475     14,747      57,815     60,174 
Missouri ..........:      67         81     26,565     24,762     112,433    114,347 
North Carolina ....:   2,403      3,004     66,525     81,861     247,104    281,761 
Texas .............:     805      1,593     19,815     24,445     129,122    140,929 
Virginia ..........:   1,373        748     12,695     18,567      81,275     95,232 
                   :                                                                 
United States .....:  17,653     23,475    660,262    699,834   2,552,604  2,683,510 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-  Represents zero.                                                                  
1/ Includes any portion of the carcass affected by an inflammatory process,          
   plant-rejected carcasses, missing viscera, or ascites fluid preventing proper     
   inspection of the carcass.                                                        

Young Turkeys, Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight - States and
United States: December 2014 and January 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :         Number          :          Total          :       Average       
                 :       slaughtered       :       live weight       :     live weight     
      State      :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :  December  :  January   :  December  :  January   : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :   ---- 1,000 head ---      --- 1,000 pounds ---      ----- pounds ----  
                 :                                                                         
Alabama .........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Alaska ..........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Arizona .........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Arkansas ........:    2,749        3,122       55,864       64,858       20.32      20.77  
California ......:      943          693       27,812       21,885       29.48      31.59  
Colorado ........:      (D)            -          (D)            -         (D)          -  
Connecticut .....:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Delaware ........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Florida .........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Georgia .........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
                 :                                                                         
Hawaii ..........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Idaho ...........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Illinois ........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Indiana .........:    1,958        1,863       78,501       73,811       40.09      39.62  
Iowa ............:      766          963       32,614       40,113       42.59      41.66  
Kansas ..........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Kentucky ........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Louisiana .......:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Maine ...........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Maryland ........:      (D)            -          (D)            -         (D)          -  
                 :                                                                         
Massachusetts ...:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Michigan ........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Minnesota .......:    3,566        3,656       96,824      103,228       27.15      28.23  
Mississippi .....:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Missouri ........:      888          902       31,612       32,202       35.60      35.68  
Montana .........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Nebraska ........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Nevada ..........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
New Hampshire ...:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
New Jersey ......:        -          (D)            -          (D)           -        (D)  
                 :                                                                         
New Mexico ......:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
New York ........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
North Carolina ..:    1,796        1,760       66,679       65,825       37.13      37.40  
North Dakota ....:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Ohio ............:      385          425       16,578       18,674       43.10      43.93  
Oklahoma ........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Oregon ..........:      (D)            -          (D)            -         (D)          -  
Pennsylvania ....:      679          576       17,838       15,736       26.27      27.33  
Rhode Island ....:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
South Carolina ..:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
                 :                                                                         
South Dakota ....:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Tennessee .......:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Texas ...........:      507          646        8,338       10,473       16.44      16.22  
Utah ............:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Vermont .........:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Virginia ........:    2,263        2,320       61,949       62,821       27.37      27.08  
Washington ......:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
West Virginia ...:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
Wisconsin .......:      (D)          (D)          (D)          (D)         (D)        (D)  
Wyoming .........:        -            -            -            -           -          -  
                 :                                                                         
United States ...:   19,006       19,404      590,747      611,542       31.08      31.52  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-   Represents zero.                                                                       
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                           

Young Turkeys, Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations - States and United States:
December 2014 and January 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :                         :           Post-mortem condemnations           
                 :Total chilled and frozen :-----------------------------------------------
      State      :   pounds certified 1/   :    Carcass and parts    :     Percent 2/      
                 :-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :  December  :  January   :  December  :  January   : December : January  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 :  ---------------- 1,000 pounds ---------------       ---- percent ----  
                 :                                                                         
Alabama .........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Alaska ..........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Arizona .........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Arkansas ........:   46,813       54,159         319          380         0.68       0.70  
California ......:   22,269       17,639         235          163         1.05       0.91  
Colorado ........:      (D)            -         (D)            -          (D)        (X)  
Connecticut .....:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Delaware ........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Florida .........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Georgia .........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
                 :                                                                         
Hawaii ..........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Idaho ...........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Illinois ........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Indiana .........:   63,091       59,778       1,133          947         1.76       1.56  
Iowa ............:   25,738       31,413         444          684         1.69       2.13  
Kansas ..........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Kentucky ........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Louisiana .......:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Maine ...........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Maryland ........:      (D)            -         (D)            -          (D)        (X)  
                 :                                                                         
Massachusetts ...:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Michigan ........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Minnesota .......:   76,904       81,814       1,422        1,446         1.82       1.74  
Mississippi .....:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Missouri ........:   25,595       26,067         226          221         0.88       0.84  
Montana .........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Nebraska ........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Nevada ..........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
New Hampshire ...:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
New Jersey ......:        -          (D)           -          (D)          (X)        (D)  
                 :                                                                         
New Mexico ......:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
New York ........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
North Carolina ..:   52,140       51,277         562          592         1.07       1.14  
North Dakota ....:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Ohio ............:   13,236       14,888         253          318         1.88       2.09  
Oklahoma ........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Oregon ..........:      (D)            -         (D)            -          (D)        (X)  
Pennsylvania ....:   14,150       12,462         264          210         1.83       1.66  
Rhode Island ....:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
South Carolina ..:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
                 :                                                                         
South Dakota ....:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Tennessee .......:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Texas ...........:    6,671        8,876          48           70         0.72       0.78  
Utah ............:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Vermont .........:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Virginia ........:   49,459       50,712         595          575         1.19       1.12  
Washington ......:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
West Virginia ...:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
Wisconsin .......:      (D)          (D)         (D)          (D)          (D)        (D)  
Wyoming .........:        -            -           -            -          (X)        (X)  
                 :                                                                         
United States ...:  472,065      489,634       7,032        6,879         1.47       1.39  
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-   Represents zero.                                                                       
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                           
(X) Not applicable.                                                                        
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.                                                                 
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.        

Terms and Definitions Used for Poultry Slaughter Estimates

Ante-Mortem Condemnations: Birds condemned prior to their entry into the 
slaughter plant.

Average Live Weight: The weight of the whole bird, before slaughter. Excludes 
post-mortem condemnations.

Certified Ready-to-Cook: The weight of poultry certified wholesome by 
inspection after post-mortem condemnation pounds are removed. Ready-to-cook 
represents poultry meat ready for the marketing channel.

Dressing Percent: Usually expressed as a percentage yield of frozen and 
chilled carcass in relation to the weight of the live bird.  

Ducks: Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight. 

Federally Inspected (FI) Plants: Plants that transport meat interstate must 
employ federal inspectors to assure compliance with USDA standards.  

Mature Chickens: Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks.

Number of Head: Includes post-mortem condemnations.

Old Turkeys: Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 
months of age. 

Plant, Slaughter: An establishment where birds are killed and butchered.

Post-Mortem Condemnations: Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector 
because of disease or mishandling and removed from the slaughter line and 
destroyed.

Slaughter: Killing and butchering of birds primarily for food.

Total Live Weight: The total weight of live birds, before slaughter. Excludes 
post-mortem condemnations.

Young Chickens: Commercially grown broilers-fryers and other young immature 
birds such as roasters and capons. 

Young Turkeys: Young birds grown to a matured market age, and other turkeys 
such as fryers/roasters and young breeders. 

Statistical Methodology

Data Sources: Data for poultry slaughter estimates are collected by 
inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA for all 
Federally Inspected plants. Over 99 percent of the total United States 
slaughter for any species is under Federal Inspection. The number of head 
slaughtered daily, by species and class, as well as condemnations and total 
live and dressed weights are obtained by shift for each plant. Approximately 
300 plants slaughtered poultry in the United States under Federal Inspection 
in 2012. Young chickens were slaughtered in 37 States, young turkeys in 28 
States.

Revision Policy: Data for the previous month and year-to-date totals are 
subject to revision the following month after the initial monthly estimates 
are published. Final data are published in the annual summary released in 
February and include any revisions made to current year's and previous year's 
published data. Revisions are generally the result of late reports or 
corrections received by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half 
of one percent. No revisions will be made to the previous year's data after 
publication of the annual summary in February.  

Procedures and Reliability: Plant inspectors submit data electronically for 
each shift a plant operates. An edit provides checks for the detection of 
errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data. 
Data are accumulated to monthly totals for this release. 
					
Data for major slaughter plants with missing reports are adjusted prior to 
publication to assure that all plants slaughtering a significant portion of a 
specific class are included. Estimates for missing shifts are made only after 
verifying that the plant was in operation. Adjustments are based on a shift 
determined to be similar to the one missing. Late reports replace imputed 
data as they become available. While there is a varying degree of 
incompleteness from month to month, it has only a minimal impact on the 
published totals.

Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and, 
therefore, have no sampling error. However, they may be subject to errors 
such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and 
processing the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality 
controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all 
reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National 
Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries 
may be sent to [email protected]

Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ..................................... (202) 720-3570

Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .............. (202) 720-4447
   Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Cold Storage ..................................... (202) 720-4751
   Heidi Gleich - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ...................... (202) 720-0585
   Michael Klamm - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ..... (202) 690-3237
   Tom Kruchten - Census of Aquaculture ................................... (202) 690-4870
   Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs ............................................. (202) 690-8632
   Sammy Neal - Catfish Production, Egg Products, Mink, Trout Production .. (202) 720-3244
   Joshua O'Rear - Honey .................................................. (202) 690-3676

Access to NASS Reports

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following 
ways:

 	All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web 
site: http://www.nass.usda.gov

 	Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-
mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit 
http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Follow NASS" box under "Receive 
reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports 
you would like to receive. 

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural 
Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. 
  
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against 
its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, 
color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, 
reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial 
or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's 
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic 
information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded 
by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs 
and/or employment activities.) 
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, 
complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online 
at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA 
office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a 
letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your 
completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at 
[email protected]. 

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