Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released June 3, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Poultry Slaughter" call John Lange (202) 720-0585 or Mike Barker (202)720-3243, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 4 Percent Poultry certified wholesome during April (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 3.01 billion pounds, up 4 percent from the amount certified in April 1998. Updated totals for March 1999 show that 3.09 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during April 1999 was 4.07 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.42 billion pounds of young chickens, 79.2 million pounds of mature chickens, 556 million pounds of turkeys, and 12.4 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during April 1999 averaged 5.01 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from 1998. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.07 pounds per bird, up 4 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during April 1999 averaged 25.4 pounds per bird, down slightly from April 1998. Ante-mortem condemnations during April 1999 totaled 15.7 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.39 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.35 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 69.3 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.89 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.96 percent a year earlier. April 1999 contained 22 weekdays and four Saturdays, the same as April 1998. Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, April 1999 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Mar 1999 : 704,388 16,122 720,510 1,995 ----- Apr 1998 : 660,982 16,448 677,430 1,895 ----- Apr 1999 : 682,551 15,611 698,162 1,906 ----- : Jan-Apr 1998 : 2,590,401 56,924 2,647,325 7,526 ----- Jan-Apr 1999 : 2,668,648 60,393 2,729,042 7,670 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Mar 1999 : 3,543,812 81,204 3,625,016 13,368 921 Apr 1998 : 3,258,011 80,287 3,338,298 12,657 1,088 Apr 1999 : 3,421,604 79,176 3,500,780 12,385 836 : Jan-Apr 1998 : 12,618,836 285,478 12,904,314 50,258 4,280 Jan-Apr 1999 : 13,370,234 305,141 13,675,374 51,014 3,207 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Mar 1999 : 5.03 5.04 5.03 6.70 ----- Apr 1998 : 4.93 4.88 4.93 6.68 ----- Apr 1999 : 5.01 5.07 5.01 6.50 ----- : Jan-Apr 1998 : 4.87 5.02 4.87 6.68 ----- Jan-Apr 1999 : 5.01 5.05 5.01 6.65 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, April 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Mar 1999 : --- 21,505 141 21,645 ----- Apr 1998 : --- 22,144 147 22,291 ----- Apr 1999 : --- 21,723 175 21,898 ----- : Jan-Apr 1998 : --- 86,740 607 87,347 ----- Jan-Apr 1999 : --- 80,925 553 81,478 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Mar 1999 : --- 545,092 3,801 548,893 4,188,198 Apr 1998 : --- 562,575 3,865 566,440 3,918,482 Apr 1999 : --- 551,340 4,693 556,033 4,070,034 : Jan-Apr 1998 : --- 2,187,538 16,480 2,204,018 15,162,871 Jan-Apr 1999 : --- 2,071,725 14,893 2,086,618 15,816,214 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Mar 1999 : --- 25.35 27.04 25.36 ----- Apr 1998 : --- 25.41 26.34 25.41 ----- Apr 1999 : --- 25.38 26.83 25.39 ----- : Jan-Apr 1998 : --- 25.22 27.14 25.23 ----- Jan-Apr 1999 : --- 25.60 26.93 25.61 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Federally inspected only. Totals may not add due to rounding. 2/ Of the Mature Chickens inspected, the number reported in thousands as heavy fowl (broiler breeding stock) was: April 1998: 5,644, April 1999: 5,649. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: April 1998: 55, April 1999: 69. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, April 1999 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Mar 1999 : Chilled : 2,369,759 46,280 2,416,039 3,703 331 Frozen : 228,521 3,130 231,651 5,662 201 : Total : 2,598,280 49,410 2,647,690 9,365 532 : Apr 1998 : Chilled : 2,166,543 43,994 2,210,537 3,168 394 Frozen : 216,633 4,099 220,732 5,941 203 : Total : 2,383,176 48,093 2,431,269 9,109 597 : Apr 1999 : Chilled : 2,288,005 44,020 2,332,024 3,368 275 Frozen : 225,198 3,220 228,418 5,355 211 : Total : 2,513,203 47,240 2,560,443 8,723 486 : : Jan-Apr 1998 : Chilled : 8,384,457 157,830 8,542,287 12,402 1,549 Frozen : 844,713 13,713 858,426 23,363 863 : Total : 9,229,170 171,543 9,400,712 35,765 2,411 : Jan-Apr 1999 : Chilled : 8,943,176 170,484 9,113,659 14,048 1,178 Frozen : 856,643 13,294 869,938 21,671 657 : Total : 9,799,819 183,778 9,983,597 35,718 1,835 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, April 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Mar 1999 : Chilled : --- 204,514 2,091 206,605 2,626,679 Frozen : --- 223,643 779 224,422 461,935 : Total : --- 428,157 2,869 431,027 3,088,614 : Apr 1998 : Chilled : --- 214,439 1,973 216,413 2,430,511 Frozen : --- 229,544 938 230,482 457,359 : Total : --- 443,984 2,911 446,895 2,887,870 : Apr 1999 : Chilled : --- 199,662 2,581 202,243 2,537,911 Frozen : --- 234,976 934 235,910 469,894 : Total : --- 434,639 3,515 438,154 3,007,806 : : Jan-Apr 1998 : Chilled : --- 832,780 8,368 841,149 9,397,386 Frozen : --- 887,219 4,067 891,285 1,773,936 : Total : --- 1,719,999 12,435 1,732,434 11,171,322 : Jan-Apr 1999 : Chilled : --- 768,556 8,141 776,696 9,905,581 Frozen : --- 864,122 2,998 867,120 1,759,386 : Total : --- 1,632,678 11,139 1,643,816 11,664,966 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. Totals may not add due to rounding. Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, April 1999 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Mar 1999 : 14,265 983 15,248 18 6 Apr 1998 : 11,117 1,108 12,224 11 4 Apr 1999 : 12,599 1,732 14,331 15 6 : Jan-Apr 1998 : 49,183 4,116 53,299 45 9 Jan-Apr 1999 : 55,806 4,788 60,594 65 20 : Percent 2/ : : Apr 1998 : 0.34 1.38 0.37 0.08 0.34 Apr 1999 : 0.37 2.19 0.41 0.12 0.70 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Mar 1999 : 57,725 4,900 62,625 313 7 Apr 1998 : 53,153 4,534 57,687 249 12 Apr 1999 : 52,407 5,028 57,435 311 7 : Jan-Apr 1998 : 206,524 17,162 223,686 1,033 40 Jan-Apr 1999 : 213,944 18,890 232,834 1,208 22 : Percent 3/ : : Apr 1998 : 1.81 6.27 1.92 2.19 1.27 Apr 1999 : 1.70 7.06 1.82 2.79 0.88 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, April 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Mar 1999 : --- 1,306 38 1,344 16,615 Apr 1998 : --- 1,353 25 1,377 13,616 Apr 1999 : --- 1,311 35 1,347 15,698 : Jan-Apr 1998 : --- 6,071 124 6,195 59,548 Jan-Apr 1999 : --- 5,489 138 5,626 66,305 : Percent 2/ : : Apr 1998 : --- 0.24 0.64 0.24 0.35 Apr 1999 : --- 0.24 0.76 0.24 0.39 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Mar 1999 : --- 10,982 236 11,218 74,162 Apr 1998 : --- 11,043 262 11,305 69,253 Apr 1999 : --- 11,243 336 11,579 69,331 : Jan-Apr 1998 : --- 45,797 1,162 46,959 271,718 Jan-Apr 1999 : --- 42,127 1,035 43,162 277,226 : Percent 3/ : : Apr 1998 : --- 2.18 7.54 2.22 1.96 Apr 1999 : --- 2.27 7.96 2.31 1.89 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Federally inspected only. Totals may not add due to rounding. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of pounds (live weight) inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. 3/ Pounds condemned as percent of pounds N.Y. dressed weight of quantity inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, April 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AL : 70,646 76,435 357,255 386,514 5.06 5.06 AR : 99,324 101,204 488,678 489,882 4.92 4.84 DE : 22,658 22,587 126,295 131,674 5.57 5.83 FL : 11,431 10,718 54,465 56,514 4.76 5.27 GA : 95,803 98,791 479,584 492,536 5.01 4.99 LA : 12,548 13,737 57,474 61,317 4.58 4.46 MD : 17,706 17,820 84,800 86,507 4.79 4.85 MS : 59,878 57,792 283,688 291,497 4.74 5.04 MO : 30,685 31,928 135,006 145,900 4.40 4.57 NC : 53,418 53,998 295,153 315,618 5.53 5.84 PA : 9,128 9,104 46,323 48,248 5.08 5.30 SC : 18,710 18,105 90,190 87,431 4.82 4.83 TN : 14,561 17,562 68,952 84,425 4.74 4.81 TX : 43,280 46,305 198,118 218,738 4.58 4.72 VA : 29,556 30,924 143,523 154,680 4.86 5.00 : US : 660,982 682,551 3,258,011 3,421,604 4.93 5.01 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, April 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : AL : 263,700 290,398 7,143 8,893 2.22 2.56 AR : 351,468 356,156 6,042 6,139 1.37 1.39 DE : 91,466 95,761 2,467 2,817 2.17 2.38 FL : 39,129 39,435 1,061 1,048 2.16 2.06 GA : 356,329 362,498 10,412 7,413 2.41 1.67 LA : 40,947 43,185 999 1,142 1.93 2.07 MD : 60,038 61,569 1,169 1,382 1.53 1.78 MS : 214,139 218,605 3,988 3,102 1.56 1.18 MO : 98,589 105,906 1,764 1,644 1.45 1.25 NC : 221,451 235,875 4,951 5,473 1.86 1.93 PA : 31,907 34,444 1,400 1,284 3.36 2.96 SC : 60,077 64,412 1,721 1,721 2.12 2.19 TN : 50,800 62,841 782 927 1.26 1.22 TX : 149,467 165,619 2,597 2,708 1.46 1.38 VA : 100,322 107,885 1,746 1,787 1.35 1.28 : US : 2,383,176 2,513,203 53,153 52,407 1.81 1.70 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, Selected States and United States, April 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 1,959 221,287 559,141 1,577 15,403 AR : --- 4,395 337,835 144,498 11,860 6,397 DE : --- 12,467 119,366 88,807 96 --- FL : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- 150,986 323,200 2,020 11,179 LA : --- 204 35,237 41,026 --- 1,508 MD : --- 10,212 113,846 60,096 82 11,523 MS : --- 3,419 137,537 59,964 1,243 3,112 MO : --- 3,509 105,671 37,301 3,713 1,824 NC : --- --- 176,575 107,822 206 48,703 PA : --- --- 45,162 49,457 183 --- SC : --- 1,834 38,158 87,524 48 4,989 TN : --- 1,379 62,305 18,162 --- --- TX : --- --- 138,237 82,072 1,082 2,634 VA : --- --- 83,627 69,714 --- --- : US : --- 163,723 2,102,965 1,799,840 39,774 166,028 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 10,524 37,472 60,695 16,418 237,888 1,162,364 AR : 11,879 32,441 48,925 4,094 128,824 731,148 DE : 2,670 11,488 17,140 5,795 71,051 328,880 FL : 1,766 3,061 6,661 --- --- 11,488 GA : --- 42,828 60,333 12,467 402,634 1,005,647 LA : 1,439 6,964 7,055 --- 12,433 105,866 MD : 1,773 9,767 --- 1,562 33,056 241,917 MS : 5,477 29,804 25,101 1,994 112,224 379,875 MO : 2,472 10,935 17,795 --- 40,926 224,146 NC : 7,114 46,535 49,730 6,917 139,758 583,360 PA : 2,272 3,745 --- 343 32,065 133,227 SC : 3,848 21,515 8,967 3,744 51,885 222,512 TN : 2,730 8,615 --- 1,097 20,607 114,895 TX : 1,868 14,052 20,804 2,454 14,069 277,272 VA : 2,534 7,972 8,742 3,388 75,453 251,430 : US : 788,297 317,853 457,322 70,731 1,525,383 7,431,916 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, April 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 16,448 15,611 80,287 79,176 4.88 5.07 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, April 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 48,093 47,240 4,534 5,028 6.27 7.06 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, Selected States and United States, April 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 10,016 443,507 19,054 768 175,831 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 50,083 49,787 233,696 1,250 73,557 1,057,549 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, April 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AR : 2,236 2,398 39,883 44,470 17.84 18.55 CA : 1,373 1,248 32,149 29,844 23.41 23.90 IA : 1,110 1,475 31,373 43,036 28.27 29.17 MN : 3,374 3,123 78,207 80,450 23.18 25.76 MO : 2,200 2,104 61,156 58,747 27.80 27.92 NC : 3,389 2,803 94,319 65,488 27.83 23.36 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 2,732 3,223 54,950 70,066 20.11 21.74 : US : 22,144 21,723 562,575 551,340 25.41 25.38 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, April 1998-99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 : 1998 : 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : AR : 33,074 36,642 637 628 1.77 1.57 CA : 25,833 24,053 497 395 1.72 1.47 IA : 24,377 33,301 809 1,128 2.87 2.91 MN : 62,169 63,091 2,012 1,992 2.86 2.75 MO : 48,138 46,560 1,496 1,269 2.72 2.40 NC : 74,963 51,838 1,509 1,110 1.78 1.88 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 42,665 54,278 753 913 1.52 1.45 : US : 443,984 434,639 11,043 11,243 2.18 2.27 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, Selected States and United States, April 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 4,811 386 --- --- CA : --- --- 5,999 46 --- --- IA : --- --- 6,678 3,266 --- --- MN : --- --- 12,950 --- --- 16 MO : --- --- 17,036 --- --- --- NC : --- --- 5,780 --- --- 4 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : --- --- 3,705 250 --- 10 : US : --- 1,487 83,851 19,997 6,761 86 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : 50 953 --- --- 1,613 7,813 CA : 24 --- 130 10 284 6,493 IA : --- --- --- --- --- 9,944 MN : --- 925 756 --- 1,262 15,909 MO : --- --- 467 215 1,737 19,455 NC : 127 --- --- --- 1,389 7,300 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : --- 1,314 201 --- 1,245 6,725 : US : 1,738 8,563 7,026 2,721 11,566 143,796 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, April 1999 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- --- 4,518 775 --- 116 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : 11 151 398 --- 964 6,933 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poultry Slaughter Estimates Data Sources: Primary data for commercial poultry slaughter estimates are obtained from the Poultry Inspection Form (FSIS 6000-21) completed by inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA. This form provides actual counts of birds slaughtered in Federally Inspected (FI) plants. Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for any species is under FI. The FSIS 6000-21 forms collect number of head slaughtered daily under FI by species and class as well as condemnations and total live and dressed weights. Approximately 350 plants in the U.S. are operated under Federal Inspection. Annual totals of poultry slaughtered under State-administered Non-Federal Inspection (NFI) are published in the April release. Revision Policy: Revisions are generally the result of late reports received by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half of 1 percent of the preliminary totals. Revisions for the previous month and year-to-date totals are published in each monthly release. Final data are published in the annual summary released in April and reflect any late reports or corrections which occurred after the monthly revision were published. Procedures and Reliability: Plant inspectors submit forms (FSIS 6000-21) weekly summarizing the plant's activity. When inconsistencies in the data are detected, the reports are returned to the inspectors for correction. Inspectors correct or validate the report and resubmit it. The reports cover weekly activities through Saturday night and reported data are allocated to the appropriate month as it enters the database. A NASS computer program provides a review of current data with historical data for each plant. An edit provides checks for the detection of errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data. The program also generates a missing reports listing for a telephone follow-up. Data are summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this release. 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 accounted for each week. Estimates for missing weeks are made only after verifying that the plant was in operation. Adjustments are based on either the previous week's information or a week determined to be similar to the one missing. Late reports replace imputed data as they become available. While there will continue to be a varying degree of incompleteness from month to month, it is expected to have only a minimal impact on the final 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. Generally, no State data are published if less than three plants operate for a species in a State, or if one plant has 60 percent or more of the total head for that species. These data are included in the U.S. totals. Definitions Used To Report Federally Inspected Slaughter Ante-Mortem Condemnations - Birds condemned prior to their entry into the slaughter plant. 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. Ducks - Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight. Fryer-Roaster Turkeys - Young immature birds, usually under 16 weeks of age. Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks. New York Dressed Weight - Carcass weight after only feathers and blood are removed. This weight is approximately 90% of live weight. Old Turkeys (Breeders) - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 months of age. Other Poultry - Includes all other ready-to-cook products which bear the U.S.D.A. Inspected for Wholesomeness legend. Post-Mortem Condemnations - Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector because of disease or mishandling and removed from the slaughter line and destroyed. Young Chickens - Commercially grown broilers-fryers and other young immature birds such as roasters and capons. Young Turkeys (Mature) - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about 5 months. Index Page Definitions.............................................................. 16 Mature Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, U.S., April 1998-1999................................................... 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999............................... 11 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., April 1998-1999................................................... 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., April 1998-1999................................................... 14 Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type, U.S., April 1998........................................................ 4 Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, U.S., April 1998............................................... 6 Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, U.S., April 1998................................... 2 Reliability Statement.................................................... 15 Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999............................... 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999............................... 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999............................... 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999.................. 12 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999............................... 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., April 1998-1999............................... 12 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on July 6, 1999. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.