Pou 2-1 (2-09) Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released February 25, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Poultry Slaughter" call Fleming Gibson at 202-690-3237, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 12 Percent from Last Year Poultry certified wholesome during January 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.39 billion pounds, down 12 percent from the amount certified in January 2008. The December 2008 revised certified total at 3.47 billion pounds, was up 2 percent from December 2007. The December revision represented an increase of 717 thousand pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified. The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during January 2009 was 4.53 billion pounds, down 12 percent from 5.16 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.86 billion pounds, down 12 percent from January 2008. Mature chickens, at 62.1 million pounds, were down 15 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 594 million pounds, down 14 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.0 million pounds, down 11 percent from last year. Young chickens slaughtered during January 2009 averaged 5.56 pounds per bird, down slightly from January 2008. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.63 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during January 2009 averaged 30.5 pounds per bird, up slightly from January 2008. Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2009 totaled 15.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.39 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 41.3 million pounds, were 1.20 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.31 percent a year earlier. January 2009 contained 22 weekdays (including two holiday) and 5 Saturdays, while January 2008 had 23 weekdays (including two holiday) and 4 Saturdays. Special Note Beginning with this monthly release of the Poultry Slaughter report, young chicken post-mortem State level data by cause for Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee has been discontinued. Young chicken post-mortem State level data by cause will continue to be published for the nine remaining states. Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, January, 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Pct of : January : : : : :---------: to Date :Pct Commodity : Jan : Dec : Jan :Jan :Dec :---------------------: of : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 :2008:2008: 2008 : 2009 :2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :--------- 1,000 Head -------- Pct ---- 1,000 Head ---- Pct : Number : Slaughtered : Chickens : Young : 786,973 709,846 694,679 88 98 786,973 694,679 88 Mature : 12,970 11,476 11,031 85 96 12,970 11,031 85 Light : 6,333 5,527 5,238 83 95 6,333 5,238 83 Heavy : 6,637 5,949 5,793 87 97 6,637 5,793 87 Total : 799,943 721,322 705,710 88 98 799,943 705,710 88 : Turkeys : Young : 22,584 20,732 19,251 85 93 22,584 19,251 85 Old : 118 171 203 172 119 118 203 172 Total : 22,702 20,903 19,454 86 93 22,702 19,454 86 : Ducks : 2,155 2,196 1,953 91 89 2,155 1,953 91 : :-------- 1,000 Pounds ------- Pct --- 1,000 Pounds --- Pct : Live Weight : Chickens : Young :4,380,786 3,943,792 3,863,528 88 98 4,380,786 3,863,528 88 Mature : 73,348 63,823 62,095 85 97 73,348 62,095 85 Light : 20,601 17,807 16,839 82 95 20,601 16,839 82 Heavy : 52,747 46,016 45,256 86 98 52,747 45,256 86 Total :4,454,134 4,007,615 3,925,623 88 98 4,454,134 3,925,623 88 : Turkeys : Young : 686,334 613,756 587,982 86 96 686,334 587,982 86 Old : 3,039 4,662 5,613 185 120 3,039 5,613 185 Total : 689,373 618,418 593,595 86 96 689,373 593,595 86 : Ducks : 14,599 14,744 12,992 89 88 14,599 12,992 89 Other : Poultry 2/: 175 205 152 87 74 175 152 87 : Total : Poultry :5,158,281 4,640,982 4,532,362 88 98 5,158,281 4,532,362 88 : : --------- Pounds -------- Pct ---- Pounds ---- Pct : Avg Live : Weight : Chickens : Young : 5.57 5.56 5.56 100 100 5.57 5.56 100 Mature : 5.66 5.56 5.63 99 101 5.66 5.63 99 Light : 3.25 3.22 3.21 99 100 3.25 3.21 99 Heavy : 7.95 7.74 7.81 98 101 7.95 7.81 98 Total : 5.57 5.56 5.56 100 100 5.57 5.56 100 : Turkeys : Young : 30.39 29.60 30.54 100 103 30.39 30.54 100 Old : 25.75 27.26 27.65 107 101 25.75 27.65 107 Total : 30.37 29.59 30.51 100 103 30.37 30.51 100 : Ducks : 6.77 6.71 6.65 98 99 6.77 6.65 98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Federally inspected only. 2/ Includes geese, guineas, ostriches, emus, rheas, and squab. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, January, 2008-2009 1/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Pct of : January : : : : :-----------: to Date : Pct Commodity : Jan : Dec : Jan : Jan : Dec :---------------------: of : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 :2008 :2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :-------- 1,000 Pounds ------- --- Pct -- --- 1,000 Pounds --- Pct : Chilled : Chickens : Young :2,942,858 2,667,931 2,617,585 89 98 2,942,858 2,617,585 89 Mature : 44,471 39,435 37,903 85 96 44,471 37,903 85 Light : 9,993 9,100 8,361 84 92 9,993 8,361 84 Heavy : 34,478 30,335 29,542 86 97 34,478 29,542 86 Total :2,987,329 2,707,366 2,655,488 89 98 2,987,329 2,655,488 89 : Turkeys : Young : 309,812 309,400 289,229 93 93 309,812 289,229 93 Old : 1,896 2,613 2,412 127 92 1,896 2,412 127 Total : 311,708 312,013 291,641 94 93 311,708 291,641 94 : Ducks : 4,968 3,839 3,390 68 88 4,968 3,390 68 Other : Poultry2/: 84 104 74 88 71 84 74 88 : Total : Poultry :3,304,089 3,023,322 2,950,593 89 98 3,304,089 2,950,593 89 : Frozen : Chickens : Young : 294,383 263,690 253,040 86 96 294,383 253,040 86 Mature : 1,268 276 416 33 151 1,268 416 33 Light : 931 8 112 12 1,400 931 112 12 Heavy : 337 268 304 90 113 337 304 90 Total : 295,651 263,966 253,456 86 96 295,651 253,456 86 : Turkeys : Young : 234,355 178,845 176,195 75 99 234,355 176,195 75 Old : 355 953 1,899 535 199 355 1,899 535 Total : 234,710 179,798 178,094 76 99 234,710 178,094 76 : Ducks : 5,487 6,685 5,887 107 88 5,487 5,887 107 Other : Poultry2/: 35 31 22 63 71 35 22 63 : Total : Poultry : 535,883 450,480 437,459 82 97 535,883 437,459 82 : Chilled and: Frozen : Chickens : Young :3,237,241 2,931,621 2,870,625 89 98 3,237,241 2,870,625 89 Mature : 45,739 39,711 38,319 84 96 45,739 38,319 84 Light : 10,924 9,108 8,473 78 93 10,924 8,473 78 Heavy : 34,815 30,603 29,846 86 98 34,815 29,846 86 Total :3,282,980 2,971,332 2,908,944 89 98 3,282,980 2,908,944 89 : Turkeys : Young : 544,167 488,245 465,424 86 95 544,167 465,424 86 Old : 2,251 3,566 4,311 192 121 2,251 4,311 192 Total : 546,418 491,811 469,735 86 96 546,418 469,735 86 : Ducks : 10,455 10,524 9,277 89 88 10,455 9,277 89 Other : Poultry2/: 119 135 96 81 71 119 96 81 : Total : Poultry :3,839,972 3,473,802 3,388,052 88 98 3,839,972 3,388,052 88 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Includes geese, guineas, and squab. Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, January, 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : :Percent of : January : : : : :-----------: to Date :Percent Commodity : Jan : Dec : Jan : Jan : Dec :---------------: of : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 :2008 :2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :---- 1,000 Pounds ---- Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent : Live Weight : : Chickens : Young :16,331 11,563 11,961 73 103 16,331 11,961 73 Mature : 1,444 1,159 1,239 86 107 1,444 1,239 86 Light : 395 289 375 95 130 395 375 95 Heavy : 1,049 870 864 82 99 1,049 864 82 Total :17,775 12,722 13,200 74 104 17,775 13,200 74 : Turkeys : Young : 2,107 1,599 1,844 88 115 2,107 1,844 88 Old : 50 52 57 114 110 50 57 114 Total : 2,157 1,651 1,901 88 115 2,157 1,901 88 : Ducks : 30 53 45 150 85 30 45 150 : Total Poultry :19,962 14,426 15,146 76 105 19,962 15,146 76 : : Percent : Percent of Live : Weight Condemned 2/: : Chickens : Young : 0.37 0.29 0.31 84 107 0.37 0.31 84 Mature : 1.97 1.82 2.00 102 110 1.97 2.00 102 Light : 1.92 1.62 2.23 116 138 1.92 2.23 116 Heavy : 1.99 1.89 1.91 96 101 1.99 1.91 96 Total : 0.40 0.32 0.34 85 106 0.40 0.34 85 : Turkeys : Young : 0.31 0.26 0.31 100 119 0.31 0.31 100 Old : 1.65 1.12 1.02 62 91 1.65 1.02 62 Total : 0.31 0.27 0.32 103 119 0.31 0.32 103 : Ducks : 0.21 0.36 0.35 167 97 0.21 0.35 167 : Total Poultry : 0.39 0.31 0.33 85 106 0.39 0.33 85 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Federally inspected only. 2/ Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected. Poultry Slaughter: Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, January, 2008-2009 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : :Percent of : January : : : : :-----------: to Date :Percent Commodity : Jan : Dec : Jan : Jan : Dec :---------------: of : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 :2008 :2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :---- 1,000 Pounds ---- Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent : Carcass and Parts : : Chickens : Young :37,861 29,588 29,913 79 101 37,861 29,913 79 Mature : 3,394 3,024 3,016 89 100 3,394 3,016 89 Light : 1,249 1,225 1,218 98 99 1,249 1,218 98 Heavy : 2,145 1,799 1,798 84 100 2,145 1,798 84 Total :41,255 32,612 32,929 80 101 41,255 32,929 80 : Turkeys : Young : 9,387 7,854 7,795 83 99 9,387 7,795 83 Old : 176 166 184 105 111 176 184 105 Total : 9,563 8,020 7,979 83 99 9,563 7,979 83 : Ducks : 286 375 364 127 97 286 364 127 Other Poultry : 1 1 1 100 100 1 1 100 : Total Poultry :51,105 41,008 41,273 81 101 51,105 41,273 81 : : Percent : Percent of : Weight Condemned 2/: : Chickens : Young : 1.16 1.00 1.03 89 103 1.16 1.03 89 Mature : 6.91 7.08 7.30 106 103 6.91 7.30 106 Light : 10.26 11.86 12.57 123 106 10.26 12.57 123 Heavy : 5.80 5.55 5.68 98 102 5.80 5.68 98 Total : 1.24 1.09 1.12 90 103 1.24 1.12 90 : Turkeys : Young : 1.70 1.58 1.65 97 104 1.70 1.65 97 Old : 7.25 4.45 4.09 56 92 7.25 4.09 56 Total : 1.72 1.60 1.67 97 104 1.72 1.67 97 : Ducks : 2.66 3.44 3.78 142 110 2.66 3.78 142 Other Poultry : 0.83 0.74 1.03 124 139 0.83 1.03 124 : Total Poultry : 1.31 1.17 1.20 92 103 1.31 1.20 92 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Federally inspected only. 2/ Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations. Poultry Slaughter: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, by Type, United States, December 2008-January 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity : Tuberculosis : Leukosis : Septicaemia :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : Chickens : Young : 6,486 10,664 886,408 889,266 Mature : 1,586 1,373 196,267 190,619 Light : 1,480 1,293 163,330 161,321 Heavy : 106 80 32,937 29,298 Total : 8,072 12,037 1,082,675 1,079,885 : Turkeys : Young : 104 81 58,920 53,528 Old : 2,187 2,721 Total : 104 81 61,107 56,249 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity : Airsacculitis : Synovitis : Tumors :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : Chickens : Young : 525,816 649,595 6,897 16,253 51,932 48,565 Mature : 11,096 10,369 257 347 60,738 61,434 Light : 8,233 6,791 75 181 53,843 55,714 Heavy : 2,863 3,578 182 166 6,895 5,720 Total : 536,912 659,964 7,154 16,600 112,670 109,999 : Turkeys : Young : 4,968 8,489 2,606 3,032 88 79 Old : 379 303 1 1 47 46 Total : 5,347 8,792 2,607 3,033 135 125 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity : Bruises : Cadaver : Contamination :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : Chickens : Young : 13,639 13,420 83,175 87,718 111,836 117,911 Mature : 11,389 13,584 3,375 4,206 99,258 115,682 Light : 10,464 12,874 2,061 2,878 89,910 103,748 Heavy : 925 710 1,314 1,328 9,348 11,934 Total : 25,028 27,004 86,550 91,924 211,094 233,593 : Turkeys : Young : 224 197 2,381 2,160 2,648 2,455 Old : 5 8 28 64 182 135 Total : 229 205 2,409 2,224 2,830 2,590 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commodity : Overscald : Other : Total :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : Chickens : Young : 42,713 27,717 773,256 805,906 2,502,158 2,667,015 Mature : 2,430 1,420 164,184 147,549 550,580 546,583 Light : 1,068 240 65,773 58,219 396,237 403,259 Heavy : 1,362 1,180 98,411 89,330 154,343 143,324 Total : 45,143 29,137 937,440 953,455 3,052,738 3,213,598 : Turkeys : Young : 816 511 10,924 11,712 83,679 82,244 Old : 8 22 164 262 3,001 3,562 Total : 824 533 11,088 11,974 86,680 85,806 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : : Average : Slaughtered : Live Weight : Live Weight State :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : December : January : December : January :December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AL : 84,905 83,338 455,722 450,675 5.37 5.41 AR : 86,669 81,551 484,516 457,715 5.59 5.61 DE : 24,582 24,264 171,259 164,707 6.97 6.79 GA : 103,592 101,296 544,997 524,589 5.26 5.18 KY : 24,014 20,902 128,853 111,684 5.37 5.34 LA : 14,362 14,743 84,156 85,826 5.86 5.82 MD : 10,990 10,536 54,006 47,172 4.91 4.48 MS : 61,454 59,026 351,086 338,559 5.71 5.74 MO : 33,779 32,676 159,595 155,470 4.72 4.76 NY : 1,580 1,568 8,225 8,157 5.21 5.20 NC : 59,362 61,361 414,205 425,699 6.98 6.94 OH : 4,371 4,417 25,097 26,463 5.74 5.99 PA : 9,545 9,448 55,292 53,628 5.79 5.68 SC : 24,508 23,440 153,996 150,170 6.28 6.41 TN : 21,028 20,776 110,049 107,880 5.23 5.19 TX : 56,399 55,056 295,533 286,959 5.24 5.21 VA : 26,062 26,464 124,366 129,134 4.77 4.88 : US 1/ : 709,846 694,679 3,943,792 3,863,528 5.56 5.56 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 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 --- : AL : 342,560 339,309 2,931 2,980 0.85 0.87 AR : 349,968 329,659 3,906 3,766 1.10 1.13 DE : 123,463 118,582 1,500 1,487 1.20 1.24 GA : 409,533 393,098 3,269 3,568 0.79 0.90 KY : 94,613 81,558 1,007 1,544 1.05 1.86 LA : 62,160 63,196 296 352 0.47 0.55 MD : 39,112 33,949 559 540 1.41 1.57 MS : 265,884 256,961 2,500 2,212 0.93 0.85 MO : 117,421 114,117 1,408 1,218 1.18 1.06 NY : 4,981 4,978 103 115 2.02 2.25 NC : 318,655 327,225 4,295 4,150 1.33 1.25 OH : 18,596 19,523 320 325 1.69 1.64 PA : 38,284 37,318 1,027 868 2.61 2.27 SC : 115,617 112,931 820 809 0.70 0.71 TN : 79,694 78,147 590 580 0.74 0.74 TX : 227,936 222,266 1,810 2,008 0.79 0.90 VA : 86,964 89,852 640 734 0.73 0.81 : US 3/ : 2,931,621 2,870,625 29,588 29,913 1.00 1.03 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations. 3/ Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Tuberculosis : Leukosis : Septicaemia :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : AL : * * 57,357 59,025 AR : 373 * 126,290 121,988 DE : * * 61,227 55,764 GA : 109 * 66,212 70,935 MS : * * 32,371 28,425 MO : 300 290 86,918 75,130 NC : * * 95,325 95,225 TX : 90 42 41,946 51,422 VA : * 100 25,225 30,470 : US 1/ : 6,486 10,664 886,408 889,266 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Airsacculitis : Synovitis : Tumors :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : AL : 64,139 72,170 320 548 * * AR : 36,864 31,724 1,996 2,282 2,354 2,311 DE : 23,445 33,054 * * 6,937 6,850 GA : 103,186 99,435 * 391 * * MS : 23,471 22,316 * * 621 442 MO : 18,208 14,325 175 135 1,686 1,417 NC : 66,806 60,274 * * 9,683 9,679 TX : 14,074 27,321 46 44 685 614 VA : 17,668 21,273 * 20 * * : US 1/ : 525,816 649,595 6,897 16,253 51,932 48,565 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Bruises : Cadaver : Contamination :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : AL : 1,524 1,413 5,401 6,493 9,059 9,512 AR : 1,654 1,870 12,339 10,692 10,202 9,502 DE : 738 614 3,219 2,635 3,735 2,642 GA : 1,112 989 17,334 17,198 10,044 8,653 MS : * * 2,085 2,775 * * MO : 644 588 2,433 3,115 6,404 6,842 NC : 1,358 1,290 11,967 13,048 7,191 7,084 TX : 345 319 3,715 3,859 5,537 5,881 VA : 761 699 1,655 1,770 2,571 2,725 : US 1/ : 13,639 13,420 83,175 87,718 111,836 117,911 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Overscald : Other : Total :------------------------------------------------------------------ : December : January : December : January : December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number of Head : AL : 3,767 2,737 103,231 120,196 248,426 275,331 AR : 1,767 * 61,875 81,288 255,714 263,657 DE : 1,350 * 20,667 24,806 122,634 128,239 GA : 3,367 3,662 70,615 104,290 281,639 314,576 MS : * * 52,546 43,914 118,639 105,942 MO : 74 488 91,033 74,708 207,875 177,038 NC : 11,179 7,293 113,162 81,599 317,101 277,016 TX : 776 569 48,975 58,114 116,189 148,185 VA : 996 787 20,609 * 72,599 91,712 : US 1/ : 42,713 27,717 773,256 805,906 2,502,158 2,667,015 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure. Young Turkeys Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : : Average : Slaughtered : Live Weight : Live Weight State :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : December : January : December : January :December : January -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --- 1,000 Head --- --- 1,000 Pounds --- ---- Pounds --- : AR : 3,136 2,568 61,129 49,339 19.49 19.21 MN : 3,210 2,957 90,567 81,467 28.21 27.55 MO : * * * * * * : US 1/ : 20,732 19,251 613,756 587,982 29.60 30.54 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure. Young Turkeys Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 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 --- : AR : 50,528 40,586 726 683 1.42 1.65 MN : 72,223 64,801 1,389 1,287 1.89 1.95 MO : * * * * * * : US 3/ : 488,245 465,424 7,854 7,795 1.58 1.65 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations. 3/ Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure. Terms and Definitions Used for Poultry Slaughter Estimates: 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. Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks. Old Turkeys - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 months of age. 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 - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about 5 months. Reliability of Poultry Slaughter Estimates Data Sources: Data for poultry slaughter estimates are collected by inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA for all Federally Inspected (FI) plants. Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for any species is under FI. 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 320 plants slaughtered poultry in the U.S. under Federal Inspection in 2008. Young chickens were slaughtered in 35 States, young turkeys in 26 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 1 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. State data are published using selected States for young chickens and young turkeys. Data for all States not published and those published States that are confidential (denoted by an *) are included in the "US" category. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch............................(202) 720-3570 Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section.....(202) 720-4447 David Colwell - Cold Storage................................(202) 720-8784 Fleming Gibson - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised............................................(202) 690-3237 Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey.(202) 720-3244 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs..................................(202) 690-8632 Bruce Boess - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink......................................................(202) 720-4447 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: www.nass.usda.gov. 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