Poultry Slaughter

Poultry Slaughter
ISSN: 1949-1581

Released March 26, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 4 Percent from Last Year
Poultry certified wholesome during February 2012 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.47 billion pounds, up 4 percent from
the amount certified in February 2011. The January 2012 revised certified total at 3.62 billion pounds, was down 1 percent
from January 2011. The January revision represented an increase of 2.69 million pounds from last month's preliminary
pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during February 2012 was 4.60 billion pounds, up
4 percent from 4.42 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 3.93 billion pounds, up 4 percent from
February 2011. Mature chickens, at 61.0 million pounds, were down slightly from the previous year. Turkey inspections
totaled 586 million pounds, up 7 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 13.5 million pounds, up 7 percent from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 5.82 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from February 2011.
The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.52 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys
slaughtered during February 2012 averaged 30.8 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from February 2011.
Ante-mortem condemnations during February 2012 totaled 9.56 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.21 percent of
the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.26 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at
34.4 million pounds, were 0.98 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 1.09 percent a year earlier.
February 2011 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
February 2012 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type – United States
[Federally inspected only]

Commodity

February
2011

January
2012

February
2012

January
to February

February 2012 as % of
February
2011

January
2012

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Number slaughtered
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

659,359
10,999
5,587
5,412
670,358

707,215
12,845
6,975
5,870
720,060

675,844
11,056
5,568
5,488
686,900

103
101
100
101
102

96
86
80
93
95

1,372,884
22,595
11,482
11,113
1,395,479

1,383,059
23,901
12,543
11,358
1,406,960

101
106
109
102
101

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

17,833
145
17,978

19,291
110
19,401

18,931
99
19,030

106
68
106

98
90
98

36,583
241
36,824

38,222
209
38,431

104
87
104

Ducks ...........................

1,840

2,104

1,977

107

94

3,937

4,081

104

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

Total live weight
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

3,799,518
61,117
17,858
43,259
3,860,635

4,131,497
67,936
22,570
45,366
4,199,433

3,934,939
61,046
18,101
42,945
3,995,985

104
100
101
99
104

95
90
80
95
95

7,975,574
124,981
36,555
88,426
8,100,555

8,066,436
128,982
40,671
88,311
8,195,418

101
103
111
100
101

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

544,803
3,722
548,525

597,390
2,810
600,200

583,200
2,636
585,836

107
71
107

98
94
98

1,123,364
6,353
1,129,717

1,180,590
5,446
1,186,036

105
86
105

Ducks ...........................

12,607

14,322

13,489

107

94

27,037

27,811

103

Other 1 .........................

125

177

149

119

84

289

326

113

Total ............................

4,421,892

4,814,132

4,595,459

104

95

9,257,598

9,409,591

102

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(percent)

Average live weight
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

5.76
5.56
3.20
7.99
5.76

5.84
5.29
3.24
7.73
5.83

5.82
5.52
3.25
7.83
5.82

101
99
102
98
101

100
104
100
101
100

5.81
5.53
3.18
7.96
5.80

5.83
5.40
3.24
7.78
5.82

100
98
102
98
100

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

30.55
25.67
30.51

30.97
25.55
30.94

30.81
26.63
30.78

101
104
101

99
104
99

30.71
26.36
30.68

30.89
26.06
30.86

101
99
101

Ducks ...........................

6.85

6.81

6.82

100

100

6.87

6.81

99

1

2

Includes geese, guineas, ostriches, emus, rheas, and squab.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type – United States
[Ready-to-cook weights]

Commodity

February
2011

January
2012

January
to February

February 2012 as % of

February
2012

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

February
2011

January
2012

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

Chilled
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

2,607,053
37,089
9,596
27,493
2,644,142

2,807,455
43,249
11,899
31,350
2,850,704

2,670,645
38,805
9,566
29,239
2,709,450

102
105
100
106
102

95
90
80
93
95

5,464,459
76,890
19,523
57,367
5,541,349

5,478,100
82,054
21,465
60,589
5,560,154

100
107
110
106
100

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

272,912
2,800
275,712

296,140
2,097
298,237

293,106
1,930
295,036

107
69
107

99
92
99

572,150
4,752
576,902

589,246
4,027
593,273

103
85
103

Ducks ..........................

3,222

3,979

3,691

115

93

7,118

7,670

108

Other 1 .........................

73

119

99

136

83

157

218

139

Total ............................

2,923,149

3,153,039

3,008,276

103

95

6,125,526

6,161,315

101

Frozen
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

245,316
276
260
16
245,592

284,338
284,338

283,888
283,888

116
(X)
(X)
(X)
116

100
(X)
(X)
(X)
100

515,397
285
269
16
515,682

568,226
568,226

110
(X)
(X)
(X)
110

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

159,862
71
159,933

178,390
52
178,442

171,745
31
171,776

107
44
107

96
60
96

321,534
165
321,699

350,135
83
350,218

109
50
109

Ducks ..........................

5,868

6,436

6,138

105

95

12,324

12,574

102

.........................

14

7

6

43

86

39

13

33

Total ............................

411,407

469,223

461,808

112

98

849,744

931,031

110

Chilled and frozen
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

2,852,369
37,365
9,856
27,509
2,889,734

3,091,793
43,249
11,899
31,350
3,135,042

2,954,533
38,805
9,566
29,239
2,993,338

104
104
97
106
104

96
90
80
93
95

5,979,856
77,175
19,792
57,383
6,057,031

6,046,326
82,054
21,465
60,589
6,128,380

101
106
108
106
101

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

432,774
2,871
435,645

474,530
2,149
476,679

464,851
1,961
466,812

107
68
107

98
91
98

893,684
4,917
898,601

939,381
4,110
943,491

105
84
105

Ducks ..........................

9,090

10,415

9,829

108

94

19,442

20,244

104

Other 1 .........................

87

126

105

121

83

196

231

118

Total ............................

3,334,556

3,622,262

3,470,084

104

96

6,975,270

7,092,346

102

Other

1

- Represents zero.
(X) Not applicable.
1
Includes geese, guineas, and squab.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Ante-Mortem Condemnations by Type – United States
[Federally inspected only]

Commodity

February
2011

January
2012

February
2012

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

January
to February

February 2012 as % of
February
2011

January
2012

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

Live weight
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

8,938
978
271
707
9,916

8,171
1,044
487
557
9,215

7,590
566
241
325
8,156

85
58
89
46
82

93
54
49
58
89

19,300
1,978
515
1,463
21,278

15,761
1,610
728
882
17,371

82
81
141
60
82

Turkeys ........................
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

1,593
41
1,634

1,413
36
1,449

1,364
13
1,377

86
32
84

97
36
95

3,200
62
3,262

2,777
49
2,826

87
79
87

Ducks ...........................

49

34

30

61

88

99

64

65

Total ............................

11,599

10,698

9,563

82

89

24,639

20,261

82

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Percent of live
weight condemned 1
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

0.24
1.60
1.52
1.63
0.26

0.20
1.54
2.16
1.23
0.22

0.19
0.93
1.33
0.76
0.20

79
58
88
47
77

95
60
62
62
91

0.24
1.58
1.41
1.65
0.26

0.20
1.25
1.79
1.00
0.21

83
79
127
61
81

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total .........................

0.29
1.10
0.30

0.24
1.28
0.24

0.23
0.49
0.24

79
45
80

96
38
100

0.28
0.98
0.29

0.24
0.90
0.24

86
92
83

Ducks ...........................

0.39

0.24

0.22

56

92

0.37

0.23

62

Total ............................

0.26

0.22

0.21

81

95

0.27

0.22

81

1

4

Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type – United States
[Federally inspected only]

Commodity

February
2011

January
2012

February
2012

(1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds) (1,000 pounds)

January
to February

February 2012 as % of
February
2011

January
2012

2011

2012

2012 as
percent
of 2011

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

Carcass and parts
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

26,180
3,120
1,276
1,844
29,300

25,860
2,163
1,087
1,076
28,023

25,862
2,058
873
1,185
27,920

99
66
68
64
95

100
95
80
110
100

54,736
5,478
1,963
3,515
60,214

51,722
4,221
1,960
2,261
55,943

94
77
100
64
93

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

7,033
113
7,146

6,333
99
6,432

6,126
70
6,196

87
62
87

97
71
96

13,930
198
14,128

12,459
169
12,628

89
85
89

Ducks ..........................
Other ...........................

259
1

236
2

262
1

101
100

111
50

551
2

498
3

90
150

Total ............................

36,706

34,693

34,379

94

99

74,895

69,072

92

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Percent of
weight condemned 1
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

0.91
7.71
11.46
6.28
1.00

0.83
4.76
8.37
3.32
0.89

0.87
5.04
8.36
3.89
0.92

96
65
73
62
92

105
106
100
117
103

0.91
6.63
9.02
5.77
0.98

0.85
4.89
8.37
3.60
0.90

93
74
93
62
92

Turkeys
Young ......................
Old ...........................
Total ........................

1.60
3.79
1.61

1.32
4.40
1.33

1.30
3.45
1.31

81
91
81

98
78
98

1.53
3.87
1.55

1.31
3.95
1.32

86
102
85

Ducks ..........................
Other ...........................

2.77
1.14

2.22
1.56

2.60
0.94

94
82

117
60

2.76
1.01

2.40
1.28

87
127

Total ............................

1.09

0.95

0.98

90

103

1.06

0.96

91

1

Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, by Type – United States: January and February 2012
Commodity

Tuberculosis

Leukosis

Septicaemia

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

-

-

4,969
1,822
1,749
73
6,791

6,155
801
723
78
6,956

709,439
191,633
156,527
35,106
901,072

694,922
144,537
103,833
40,704
839,459

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

-

-

35
35

30
30

33,529
1,228
34,757

34,049
833
34,882

Commodity

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

465,326
10,248
6,143
4,105
475,574

596,901
8,993
4,288
4,705
605,894

2,801
448
134
314
3,249

3,225
435
138
297
3,660

32,997
48,484
42,634
5,850
81,481

31,389
38,488
32,985
5,503
69,877

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

4,381
215
4,596

4,687
142
4,829

1,520
1
1,521

987
4
991

125
161
286

44
50
94

Commodity

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

10,854
18,618
18,065
553
29,472

10,220
9,813
9,172
641
20,033

67,548
3,410
2,417
993
70,958

60,597
3,403
2,428
975
64,000

91,284
88,496
81,687
6,809
179,780

100,741
62,921
48,252
14,669
163,662

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

117
1
118

137
1
138

1,479
7
1,486

1,233
12
1,245

1,441
16
1,457

1,572
14
1,586

Commodity

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Chickens
Young ...................................
Mature ..................................
Light ..................................
Heavy ................................
Total ......................................

15,337
260
141
119
15,597

16,240
563
370
193
16,803

733,556
109,935
59,634
50,301
843,491

712,151
74,646
34,889
39,757
786,797

2,134,111
473,354
369,131
104,223
2,607,465

2,232,541
344,303
236,781
107,522
2,576,844

Turkeys
Young ...................................
Old ........................................
Total ......................................

509
2
511

540
15
555

17,390
351
17,741

17,695
146
17,841

60,526
1,982
62,508

60,974
1,217
62,191

- Represents zero.
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.

1

6

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens, Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and
United States: January and February 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Number
slaughtered

State

Total
live weight

Average
live weight

January

February

January

February

January

February

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ...........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware ..........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

82,019
75,802
22,823
(D)
(D)
26,585
5,158
102,858

80,857
72,016
20,772
(D)
(D)
24,417
4,875
99,227

467,993
443,053
129,778
(D)
(D)
188,777
31,689
566,874

456,342
415,855
119,518
(D)
(D)
171,971
28,702
536,416

5.71
5.84
5.69
(D)
(D)
7.10
6.14
5.51

5.64
5.77
5.75
(D)
(D)
7.04
5.89
5.41

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ...........................

(D)
4,896
(D)
(D)
26,304
14,984
9,393

(D)
4,637
(D)
(D)
24,537
14,430
9,624

(D)
21,510
(D)
(D)
148,707
95,038
51,454

(D)
20,624
(D)
(D)
137,581
91,886
51,674

(D)
4.39
(D)
(D)
5.65
6.34
5.48

(D)
4.45
(D)
(D)
5.61
6.37
5.37

Massachusetts ..................
Michigan ...........................
Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
Nevada .............................
New Hampshire ................
New Jersey .......................

(D)
3,628
60,284
35,120
(D)
149

(D)
3,450
59,468
33,973
(D)
190

(D)
20,229
361,716
170,160
(D)
697

(D)
18,786
359,032
165,053
(D)
793

(D)
5.58
6.00
4.85
(D)
4.68

(D)
5.45
6.04
4.86
(D)
4.16

New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina ..................

1,779
62,017
4,184
9,022
(D)
11,441
23,794

1,715
58,701
3,518
8,186
(D)
11,098
22,825

9,133
434,273
27,046
63,027
(D)
63,196
162,940

8,680
416,575
24,046
58,087
(D)
61,093
159,469

5.13
7.00
6.46
6.99
(D)
5.52
6.85

5.06
7.10
6.83
7.10
(D)
5.50
6.99

South Dakota ....................
Tennessee ........................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

25,475
52,509
(D)
26,318
4,781
9,571
4,432
-

23,703
49,970
(D)
24,448
4,197
9,105
4,036
-

133,027
304,241
(D)
140,685
27,832
38,122
19,416
-

122,191
289,508
(D)
130,784
25,429
36,630
17,381
-

5.22
5.79
(D)
5.35
5.82
3.98
4.38
-

5.16
5.79
(D)
5.35
6.06
4.02
4.31
-

United States ....................

707,215

675,844

4,131,497

3,934,939

5.84

5.82

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Young Chickens, Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States:
January and February 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Post-mortem condemnations

Total chilled and frozen
pounds certified 1

Percent 2

Carcass and parts

January

February

January

February

January

February

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ..........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona ............................
Arkansas ..........................
California .........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware .........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

354,978
332,311
96,569
(D)
(D)
135,454
23,767
428,088

346,410
313,572
88,832
(D)
(D)
123,904
21,526
400,411

3,020
2,936
843
(D)
(D)
1,584
131
3,247

3,357
2,879
724
(D)
(D)
1,475
145
3,264

0.84
(X)
(X)
0.88
0.87
(D)
(D)
1.16
0.55
0.75

0.96
(X)
(X)
0.91
0.81
(D)
(D)
1.18
0.67
0.81

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa .................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana .........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................

(D)
15,692
(D)
(D)
108,050
70,002
37,187

(D)
15,153
(D)
(D)
100,082
67,690
37,442

(D)
81
(D)
(D)
785
410
702

(D)
78
(D)
(D)
783
364
750

(X)
(X)
(D)
0.51
(D)
(D)
0.72
0.58
(X)
1.85

(X)
(X)
(D)
0.51
(D)
(D)
0.78
0.53
(X)
1.96

Massachusetts .................
Michigan ..........................
Minnesota ........................
Mississippi .......................
Missouri ...........................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska .........................
Nevada ............................
New Hampshire ...............
New Jersey ......................

(D)
16,653
276,590
125,423
(D)
500

(D)
15,362
281,268
125,173
(D)
545

(D)
169
1,935
1,113
(D)
9

(D)
141
1,891
1,206
(D)
14

(X)
(D)
1.01
0.69
0.88
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
1.76

(X)
(D)
0.91
0.67
0.95
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
2.55

New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio .................................
Oklahoma ........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina .................

5,551
338,711
20,138
47,377
(D)
43,849
120,371

5,223
320,520
17,993
43,670
(D)
42,310
118,071

216
3,165
298
254
(D)
698
708

194
3,001
221
271
(D)
673
678

(X)
3.74
0.93
(X)
1.46
0.53
(D)
1.57
(X)
0.58

(X)
3.58
0.93
(X)
1.21
0.62
(D)
1.56
(X)
0.57

South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah .................................
Vermont ...........................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin ........................
Wyoming ..........................

97,121
226,531
(D)
100,809
20,792
27,391
14,220
-

89,971
220,489
(D)
93,921
18,745
25,861
12,721
-

771
1,493
(D)
725
120
83
113
-

886
1,541
(D)
697
110
66
122
-

(X)
0.79
0.65
(X)
(D)
0.71
0.57
0.30
0.79
(X)

(X)
0.97
0.69
(X)
(D)
0.74
0.58
0.25
0.95
(X)

United States ...................

3,091,793

2,954,533

25,860

25,862

0.83

0.87

- 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.

8

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens, Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause – States and United States: January
and February 2012
[Published States do not add to United States total to avoid disclosure]
State

Tuberculosis

Septicaemia

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................
United States ............................
State

Leukosis

-

-

196
223
623
374
398
84
818
113
47

115
180
1,794
121
348
67
764
97
74

68,972
70,877
39,456
58,629
31,447
58,324
77,956
48,289
20,422

74,837
69,803
37,864
53,024
30,404
57,630
77,785
42,792
18,107

-

-

4,969

6,155

709,439

694,922

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

January

February

January

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Tumors
February

(number head)

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................

56,115
33,392
53,454
44,210
11,857
22,343
58,536
22,989
31,518

95,962
33,433
43,261
44,180
10,470
22,609
63,033
20,288
40,612

290
834
29
91
105
97
160
121
28

322
748
35
83
106
174
210
185
13

1,748
1,771
3,257
4,158
612
1,400
7,289
1,240
1,437

2,007
1,456
3,366
3,058
717
1,304
7,204
1,047
1,202

United States ............................

465,326

596,901

2,801

3,225

32,997

31,389

State

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................

1,170
777
983
638
921
275
1,161
406
434

1,562
686
949
501
1,115
205
987
359
421

5,247
6,914
2,903
14,116
2,017
2,106
12,420
2,580
930

5,138
5,233
2,463
12,023
2,176
1,478
11,541
2,826
781

12,998
5,667
3,872
8,241
2,809
7,078
6,640
4,136
1,955

14,240
4,853
5,109
10,315
3,978
7,168
6,774
5,211
1,676

United States ............................

10,854

10,220

67,548

60,597

91,284

100,741

State

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

January

February

January

February

January

February

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Alabama ...................................
Arkansas ..................................
Delaware ..................................
Georgia ....................................
Mississippi ................................
Missouri ....................................
North Carolina ..........................
Texas .......................................
Virginia .....................................

977
290
1,864
2,019
533
133
2,892
883
872

1,910
211
3,110
1,992
713
119
2,867
388
231

98,362
69,668
31,819
79,174
35,726
39,040
70,529
36,730
34,165

108,103
66,958
34,723
75,859
35,958
46,329
60,893
35,625
30,659

246,075
190,413
138,260
211,650
86,425
130,880
238,401
117,487
91,808

304,196
183,561
132,674
201,156
85,985
137,083
232,058
108,818
93,776

United States ............................

15,337

16,240

733,556

712,151

2,134,111

2,232,541

- 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.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Young Turkeys, Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and
United States: January and February 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Number
slaughtered

State

Total
live weight

Average
live weight

January

February

January

February

January

February

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ..........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona ............................
Arkansas ..........................
California .........................
Colorado ..........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware .........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

2,600
792
(D)
-

2,790
834
(D)
-

53,721
21,809
(D)
-

57,572
25,296
(D)
-

20.66
27.54
(D)
-

20.63
30.32
(D)
-

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa .................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ..........................
Louisiana .........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ..........................

(D)
1,465
1,223
(D)
-

(D)
1,447
1,236
(D)
-

(D)
55,603
51,582
(D)
-

(D)
55,320
51,075
(D)
-

(D)
37.95
42.18
(D)
-

(D)
38.23
41.33
(D)
-

Massachusetts .................
Michigan ..........................
Minnesota ........................
Mississippi .......................
Missouri ...........................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska .........................
Nevada ............................
New Hampshire ...............
New Jersey ......................

(D)
3,458
1,127
(D)
-

(D)
3,116
1,229
(D)
-

(D)
90,663
39,971
(D)
-

(D)
83,816
41,851
(D)
-

(D)
26.22
35.48
(D)
-

(D)
26.90
34.05
(D)
-

New Mexico .....................
New York .........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio .................................
Oklahoma ........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ...................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina .................

(D)
2,389
439
477
(D)

(D)
2,177
454
471
(D)

(D)
80,591
19,342
11,799
(D)

(D)
72,851
19,722
11,855
(D)

(D)
33.73
44.05
24.72
(D)

(D)
33.47
43.42
25.15
(D)

South Dakota ...................
Tennessee .......................
Texas ...............................
Utah .................................
Vermont ...........................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin ........................
Wyoming ..........................

(D)
590
(D)
(D)
2,218
(D)
-

(D)
506
(D)
(D)
2,173
(D)
-

(D)
8,698
(D)
(D)
57,864
(D)
-

(D)
7,336
(D)
(D)
59,590
(D)
-

(D)
14.73
(D)
(D)
26.09
(D)
-

(D)
14.51
(D)
(D)
27.42
(D)
-

United States ...................

19,291

18,931

597,390

583,200

30.97

30.81

- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.

10

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Turkeys, Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States:
January and February 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Post-mortem condemnations

Total chilled and frozen
pounds certified 1

Percent 2

Carcass and parts

January

February

January

February

January

February

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

Alabama ...........................
Alaska ..............................
Arizona .............................
Arkansas ..........................
California ..........................
Colorado ...........................
Connecticut ......................
Delaware ..........................
Florida ..............................
Georgia ............................

43,256
17,354
(D)
-

47,190
20,386
(D)
-

346
230
(D)
-

367
229
(D)
-

(X)
(X)
(X)
0.79
1.31
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)

(X)
(X)
(X)
0.77
1.11
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)

Hawaii ..............................
Idaho ................................
Illinois ...............................
Indiana .............................
Iowa ..................................
Kansas .............................
Kentucky ...........................
Louisiana ..........................
Maine ...............................
Maryland ...........................

(D)
44,655
40,727
(D)
-

(D)
44,840
40,173
(D)
-

(D)
735
720
(D)
-

(D)
693
656
(D)
-

(X)
(X)
(D)
1.62
1.74
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)

(X)
(X)
(D)
1.52
1.61
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)

Massachusetts ..................
Michigan ...........................
Minnesota .........................
Mississippi ........................
Missouri ............................
Montana ...........................
Nebraska ..........................
Nevada .............................
New Hampshire ................
New Jersey .......................

(D)
72,069
32,574
(D)
-

(D)
67,010
33,970
(D)
-

(D)
1,303
315
(D)
-

(D)
1,091
342
(D)
-

(X)
(D)
1.78
(X)
0.96
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)

(X)
(D)
1.60
(X)
1.00
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)

New Mexico ......................
New York ..........................
North Carolina ..................
North Dakota ....................
Ohio ..................................
Oklahoma .........................
Oregon .............................
Pennsylvania ....................
Rhode Island ....................
South Carolina ..................

(D)
63,006
15,318
9,198
(D)

(D)
57,056
15,712
9,231
(D)

(D)
382
264
237
(D)

(D)
379
317
257
(D)

(X)
(D)
0.60
(X)
1.69
(X)
(X)
2.51
(X)
(D)

(X)
(D)
0.66
(X)
1.98
(X)
(X)
2.71
(X)
(D)

South Dakota ....................
Tennessee ........................
Texas ...............................
Utah ..................................
Vermont ............................
Virginia .............................
Washington ......................
West Virginia ....................
Wisconsin .........................
Wyoming ..........................

(D)
7,084
(D)
(D)
45,554
(D)
-

(D)
5,795
(D)
(D)
46,866
(D)
-

(D)
57
(D)
(D)
446
(D)
-

(D)
53
(D)
(D)
480
(D)
-

(D)
(X)
0.79
(D)
(D)
0.97
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

(D)
(X)
0.90
(D)
(D)
1.01
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

United States ....................

474,530

464,851

6,333

6,126

1.32

1.30

- 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.

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

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.

12

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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 310 plants slaughtered poultry in the United
States under Federal Inspection in 2011. Young chickens were slaughtered in 36 States, young turkeys in 29 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 nass@nass.usda.gov
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .................................................................. (202) 720-4447
Cody Brokmeyer – Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .............................................. (202) 690-3237
David Colwell – Cold Storage .................................................................................................................. (202) 720-8784
LaKeya Jones – Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Honey, Egg Products, Mink ......................................................................... (202) 720-0585
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-8632
Miste Salmon – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery .............................................................................. (202) 720-3244

Poultry Slaughter (March 2012)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

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