Poultry Slaughter - Release

Poultry Slaughter
ISSN: 1949-1581

Released October 26, 2015, 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
September 2014 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
September 2015 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Poultry certified wholesome during September 2015 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.99 billion pounds, up 4 percent
from the amount certified in September 2014. The August 2015 revised certified total at 3.92 billion pounds, was up 5
percent from August 2014. The August revision represented an increase of 835 thousand pounds from last month's
preliminary pounds certified.
The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during September 2015 was 5.27 billion pounds, up
4 percent from 5.09 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.62 billion pounds, up 5 percent from
September 2014. Mature chickens, at 68.9 million pounds, were down 3 percent from the previous year. Turkey
inspections totaled 564 million pounds, down 9 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 15.9 million pounds, up 5 percent
from last year.
Young chickens slaughtered during September 2015 averaged a record high 6.17 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from
September 2014. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.30 pounds per bird, up 8 percent from a year ago.
Turkeys slaughtered during September 2015 averaged 29.7 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from September 2014.
Ante-mortem condemnations during September 2015 totaled 13.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.25 percent of
the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.22 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at
39.9 million pounds, were 0.99 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.96 percent a year earlier.

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

Commodity

September
2014

August
2015

September
2015

September 2015 as % of

January
to September

September
2014

August
2015

2014

2015

2015 as
percent
of 2014

(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 .........................

731,821
12,232
5,803
6,429
744,053

740,789
10,078
3,706
6,372
750,867

748,238
10,928
4,144
6,784
759,166

102
89
71
106
102

101
108
112
106
101

6,378,860
110,240
56,022
54,218
6,489,100

6,549,524
101,616
45,141
56,475
6,651,140

103
92
81
104
102

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

20,066
141
20,207

19,096
163
19,259

18,889
102
18,991

94
72
94

99
63
99

172,352
1,019
173,371

170,397
1,098
171,495

99
108
99

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

2,222

2,171

2,326

105

107

19,362

20,667

107

(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 .........................

4,385,388
71,342
18,464
52,878
4,456,730

4,533,943
64,102
11,789
52,313
4,598,045

4,620,078
68,862
13,539
55,323
4,688,940

105
97
73
105
105

102
107
115
106
102

38,167,673
622,692
179,983
442,709
38,790,365

39,973,568
606,063
145,823
460,240
40,579,631

105
97
81
104
105

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

613,217
4,039
617,256

557,669
4,523
562,192

561,099
2,908
564,007

92
72
91

101
64
100

5,268,545
28,043
5,296,588

5,170,066
30,976
5,201,042

98
110
98

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

15,148

14,755

15,870

105

108

132,886

141,407

106

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

366

188

501

137

266

1,771

2,097

118

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

5,089,500

5,175,180

5,269,318

104

102

44,221,610

45,924,177

104

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

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

5.99
5.83
3.18
8.22
5.99

6.12
6.36
3.18
8.21
6.12

6.17
6.30
3.27
8.15
6.18

103
108
103
99
103

101
99
103
99
101

5.98
5.65
3.21
8.17
5.98

6.10
5.96
3.23
8.15
6.10

102
105
101
100
102

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

30.56
28.65
30.55

29.20
27.75
29.19

29.71
28.51
29.70

97
100
97

102
103
102

30.57
27.52
30.55

30.34
28.21
30.33

99
103
99

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

6.82

6.80

6.82

100

100

6.86

6.84

100

1

2

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

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

Commodity

September
2014

August
2015

September
2015

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

September 2015 as % of

January
to September

September
2014

August
2015

2014

2015

2015 as
percent
of 2014

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

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

3,011,079
45,050
9,886
35,164
3,056,129

3,139,435
42,895
6,417
36,478
3,182,330

3,204,223
45,544
7,289
38,255
3,249,767

106
101
74
109
106

102
106
114
105
102

26,219,576
393,339
97,072
296,267
26,612,915

27,556,954
391,856
80,390
311,466
27,948,810

105
100
83
105
105

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

287,480
2,914
290,394

259,491
3,341
262,832

255,213
2,065
257,278

89
71
89

98
62
98

2,395,111
19,663
2,414,774

2,401,303
22,079
2,423,382

100
112
100

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

3,961

4,107

4,410

111

107

36,470

38,300

105

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

136

119

125

92

105

1,041

1,136

109

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

3,350,620

3,449,388

3,511,580

105

102

29,065,200

30,411,628

105

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

295,498
1
1
295,499

277,933
3
3
277,936

279,572
8
8
279,580

95
800
(X)
(X)
95

101
267
(X)
267
101

2,516,603
24
12
12
2,516,627

2,550,896
23
1
22
2,550,919

101
96
8
183
101

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

202,905
181
203,086

187,810
104
187,914

194,875
121
194,996

96
67
96

104
116
104

1,821,875
1,669
1,823,544

1,744,682
1,248
1,745,930

96
75
96

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

6,948

6,603

7,052

101

107

59,617

63,886

107

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

102

7

191

187

2,729

165

253

153

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

505,635

472,460

481,819

95

102

4,399,953

4,360,988

99

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

3,306,577
45,051
9,887
35,164
3,351,628

3,417,368
42,898
6,417
36,481
3,460,266

3,483,795
45,552
7,289
38,263
3,529,347

105
101
74
109
105

102
106
114
105
102

28,736,179
393,363
97,084
296,279
29,129,542

30,107,850
391,879
80,391
311,488
30,499,729

105
100
83
105
105

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

490,385
3,095
493,480

447,301
3,445
450,746

450,088
2,186
452,274

92
71
92

101
63
100

4,216,986
21,332
4,238,318

4,145,985
23,327
4,169,312

98
109
98

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

10,909

10,710

11,462

105

107

96,087

102,186

106

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

238

126

316

133

251

1,206

1,389

115

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

3,856,255

3,921,848

3,993,399

104

102

33,465,153

34,772,616

104

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

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

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

Commodity

September
2014

August
2015

September
2015

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

September 2015 as % of

January
to September

September
2014

August
2015

2014

2015

2015 as
percent
of 2014

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

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

8,932
706
269
437
9,638

10,474
702
210
492
11,176

10,950
808
276
532
11,758

123
114
103
122
122

105
115
131
108
105

80,195
6,769
2,616
4,153
86,964

91,140
7,112
2,476
4,636
98,252

114
105
95
112
113

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

1,397
57
1,454

1,377
49
1,426

1,435
40
1,475

103
70
101

104
82
103

12,248
393
12,641

12,713
419
13,132

104
107
104

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

42

34

43

102

126

373

362

97

Total 1 ..........................

11,135

12,636

13,276

119

105

99,979

111,746

112

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Percent of live
weight condemned 2
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ...................
Total .........................

0.20
0.99
1.46
0.83
0.22

0.23
1.10
1.78
0.94
0.24

0.24
1.17
2.04
0.96
0.25

120
118
140
116
114

104
106
115
102
104

0.21
1.09
1.45
0.94
0.22

0.23
1.17
1.70
1.01
0.24

110
107
117
107
109

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

0.23
1.41
0.24

0.25
1.08
0.25

0.26
1.38
0.26

113
98
108

104
128
104

0.23
1.40
0.24

0.25
1.35
0.25

109
96
104

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

0.28

0.23

0.27

96

117

0.28

0.26

93

Total 1 ..........................

0.22

0.24

0.25

114

104

0.23

0.24

104

1

Includes geese, guineas, and squab.
2
Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected.

4

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

Commodity

September
2014

August
2015

September 2015 as % of

September
2015

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

January
to September

September
2014

August
2015

2014

2015

2015 as
percent
of 2014

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

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

27,636
2,478
798
1,680
30,114

29,290
2,024
449
1,575
31,314

30,348
2,491
518
1,973
32,839

110
101
65
117
109

104
123
115
125
105

253,382
20,907
7,701
13,206
274,289

273,269
21,150
6,303
14,847
294,419

108
101
82
112
107

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

6,873
108
6,981

6,470
152
6,622

6,616
109
6,725

96
101
96

102
72
102

56,690
1,014
57,704

58,928
1,224
60,152

104
121
104

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

290

304

313

108

103

2,436

2,751

113

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

3

3

4

133

133

13

16

123

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

37,388

38,243

39,881

107

104

334,442

357,338

107

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

(percent)

Percent of
weight condemned 2
Chickens
Young ......................
Mature .....................
Light .....................
Heavy ..................
Total ........................

0.83
5.21
7.47
4.56
0.89

0.85
4.51
6.54
4.14
0.90

0.86
5.18
6.64
4.90
0.92

104
99
89
107
103

101
115
102
118
102

0.87
5.05
7.35
4.27
0.93

0.90
5.12
7.27
4.55
0.96

103
101
99
107
103

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

1.38
3.37
1.39

1.43
4.23
1.45

1.45
4.75
1.47

105
141
106

101
112
101

1.33
4.54
1.34

1.40
4.99
1.42

105
110
106

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

2.59

2.76

2.66

103

96

2.47

2.62

106

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

1.24

2.33

1.25

101

54

1.07

1.14

107

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

0.96

0.97

0.99

103

102

0.99

1.02

103

1

Includes geese, guineas, and squab.
2
Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem condemnations.

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause and Type – United States: August and September 2015
Commodity

Tuberculosis

Leukosis

Septicaemia

August

September

August

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

-

-

4,254
210
107
103
4,464

4,123
444
377
67
4,567

898,555
98,289
61,630
36,659
996,844

948,763
104,165
63,151
41,014
1,052,928

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

-

-

70
1
71

77
77

25,361
815
26,176

29,363
801
30,164

Commodity

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

Tumors

August

September

August

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

330,251
21,100
2,677
18,423
351,351

369,014
25,159
5,487
19,672
394,173

3,797
266
108
158
4,063

4,224
216
76
140
4,440

12,859
23,198
14,998
8,200
36,057

13,895
25,617
16,578
9,039
39,512

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

4,223
278
4,501

4,524
246
4,770

1,080
1,080

1,367
1
1,368

40
168
208

45
142
187

Commodity

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

August

September

August

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

13,468
5,571
5,186
385
19,039

13,866
7,647
7,153
494
21,513

51,287
751
245
506
52,038

51,112
889
386
503
52,001

97,047
53,153
47,358
5,795
150,200

108,427
47,828
41,175
6,653
156,255

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

109
16
125

117
15
132

931
9
940

938
11
949

1,942
51
1,993

1,910
30
1,940

Commodity

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

August

September

August

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

21,321
506
55
451
21,827

20,429
691
150
541
21,120

525,588
75,706
22,079
53,627
601,294

547,337
96,576
29,682
66,894
643,913

1,958,427
278,750
154,443
124,307
2,237,177

2,081,190
309,232
164,215
145,017
2,390,422

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

347
15
362

558
6
564

8,895
123
9,018

9,291
114
9,405

42,998
1,476
44,474

48,190
1,366
49,556

- 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 (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens, Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and
United States: August and September 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Number
slaughtered

State

Total
live weight

Average
live weight

August

September

August

September

August

September

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

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

87,394
75,030
22,575
(D)
29,725
5,594
110,404

89,322
76,403
21,829
(D)
29,940
5,801
109,899

496,839
472,722
137,823
(D)
218,326
32,518
646,521

511,372
496,665
132,255
(D)
220,361
34,408
652,208

5.69
6.30
6.11
(D)
7.34
5.81
5.86

5.73
6.50
6.06
(D)
7.36
5.93
5.93

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

(D)
5,167
(D)
(D)
26,095
16,679
(D)
13,297

(D)
5,165
(D)
(D)
26,102
16,817
(D)
13,456

(D)
23,741
(D)
(D)
152,372
100,726
(D)
77,073

(D)
23,329
(D)
(D)
152,657
101,644
(D)
78,527

(D)
4.59
(D)
(D)
5.84
6.04
(D)
5.80

(D)
4.52
(D)
(D)
5.85
6.04
(D)
5.84

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

(D)
4,584
59,036
36,937
(D)
117

(D)
4,239
61,073
37,402
(D)
112

(D)
28,214
370,254
180,865
(D)
617

(D)
25,722
386,999
182,610
(D)
593

(D)
6.15
6.27
4.90
(D)
5.27

(D)
6.07
6.34
4.88
(D)
5.28

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

2,195
66,433
6,793
11,829
(D)
9,669
(D)
24,652

2,016
67,639
6,885
11,314
(D)
9,167
(D)
24,304

11,302
525,697
38,765
75,386
(D)
54,378
(D)
176,199

10,295
533,309
38,975
74,651
(D)
51,158
(D)
177,616

5.15
7.91
5.71
6.37
(D)
5.62
(D)
7.15

5.11
7.88
5.66
6.60
(D)
5.58
(D)
7.31

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

(D)
26,056
51,790
(D)
28,192
3,913
9,772
4,560
-

(D)
26,012
53,841
(D)
29,256
3,981
9,814
4,280
-

(D)
137,761
322,241
(D)
157,995
24,658
37,759
19,019
-

(D)
138,540
336,191
(D)
166,599
24,093
37,770
18,111
-

(D)
5.29
6.22
(D)
5.60
6.30
3.86
4.17
-

(D)
5.33
6.24
(D)
5.69
6.05
3.85
4.23
-

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

740,789

748,238

4,533,943

4,620,078

6.12

6.17

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

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Young Chickens, Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States:
August and September 2015
[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

August

September

August

September

August

September

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

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

376,939
358,580
102,607
(D)
159,214
24,388
487,610

389,110
378,897
98,388
(D)
160,517
25,804
491,852

2,976
3,711
1,029
(D)
1,472
119
4,231

3,006
3,903
1,115
(D)
1,529
137
4,480

0.78
(X)
(X)
1.02
0.99
(D)
(X)
0.92
0.49
0.86

0.77
(X)
(X)
1.02
1.12
(D)
(X)
0.94
0.53
0.90

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

(D)
17,396
(D)
(D)
115,672
76,002
(D)
56,218

(D)
17,047
(D)
(D)
114,687
76,590
(D)
57,267

(D)
108
(D)
(D)
1,333
463
(D)
577

(D)
111
(D)
(D)
1,593
502
(D)
682

(X)
(X)
(D)
0.62
(D)
(D)
1.14
0.61
(D)
1.02

(X)
(X)
(D)
0.64
(D)
(D)
1.37
0.65
(D)
1.18

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

(D)
23,966
285,572
134,791
(D)
434

(D)
21,797
299,412
135,317
(D)
416

(D)
239
1,949
1,435
(D)
4

(D)
229
2,090
1,473
(D)
5

(X)
(D)
0.99
0.68
1.05
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
0.98

(X)
(D)
1.04
0.69
1.08
(X)
(D)
(X)
(X)
1.09

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

6,949
410,593
28,838
56,732
(D)
36,772
(D)
132,901

6,265
413,862
29,066
56,042
(D)
34,779
(D)
133,499

151
2,836
335
442
(D)
701
(D)
765

185
3,007
357
415
(D)
652
(D)
725

(X)
2.12
0.69
(X)
1.15
0.77
(D)
1.87
(D)
0.57

(X)
2.87
0.72
(X)
1.21
0.74
(D)
1.84
(D)
0.54

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

(D)
100,992
241,739
(D)
112,992
18,416
26,973
13,896
-

(D)
101,683
254,637
(D)
119,060
17,963
27,050
13,231
-

(D)
637
2,404
(D)
835
86
91
137
-

(D)
606
2,191
(D)
803
108
97
126
-

(D)
0.63
0.98
(X)
(D)
0.73
0.46
0.34
0.97
(X)

(D)
0.59
0.85
(X)
(D)
0.67
0.60
0.36
0.94
(X)

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

3,417,368

3,483,795

29,290

30,348

0.85

0.86

- 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 (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Chickens, Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause – States and United States: August and
September 2015
[Published States do not add to United States total to avoid disclosure]
State

Tuberculosis

Septicaemia

August

September

August

September

August

September

(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

-

-

219
227
1,006
84
116
93
201
39
31

166
255
722
76
58
82
198
49
47

84,774
85,729
69,290
92,925
19,556
42,148
92,871
75,277
19,997

95,749
83,235
67,305
95,833
19,575
47,572
99,229
71,655
24,007

-

-

4,254

4,123

898,555

948,763

Airsacculitis

Synovitis

August

September

August

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

Tumors

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

24,018
31,783
31,003
74,980
6,508
3,980
22,424
16,026
14,022

26,884
36,884
31,573
64,623
6,378
5,586
25,438
16,328
16,554

366
968
95
206
60
49
348
33
3

424
936
52
106
78
54
408
59
13

1,237
711
911
2,156
461
367
1,580
557
416

1,459
739
988
2,484
459
395
1,769
615
418

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

330,251

369,014

3,797

4,224

12,859

13,895

State

Bruises

Cadaver

Contamination

August

September

August

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

1,559
407
1,749
867
692
126
1,144
452
852

1,550
361
1,753
839
412
114
990
511
1,117

5,641
4,374
1,640
14,159
1,879
592
9,290
687
595

5,635
4,578
1,463
12,942
1,859
551
9,480
748
858

20,357
6,180
5,540
9,924
1,544
2,649
5,982
4,200
3,196

21,335
6,698
4,580
15,523
1,544
2,776
5,922
3,905
4,092

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

13,468

13,866

51,287

51,112

97,047

108,427

State

Miscellaneous 1

Overscald

Total

August

September

August

September

August

September

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

(number head)

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

1,214
1,673
2,485
3,455
123
133
3,236
694
1,150

1,562
1,243
2,726
2,600
286
136
3,247
701
1,689

43,300
44,453
10,876
74,980
7,372
35,521
39,677
20,295
7,808

41,636
47,970
12,438
71,828
8,980
27,324
42,041
19,346
8,851

182,685
176,505
124,595
273,736
38,311
85,658
176,753
118,260
48,070

196,400
182,899
123,600
266,854
39,629
84,590
188,722
113,917
57,646

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

21,321

20,429

525,588

547,337

1,958,427

2,081,190

- 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 (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Young Turkeys, Number Slaughtered, Total Live Weight, and Average Live Weight – States and
United States: August and September 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Number
slaughtered

State

Total
live weight

Average
live weight

August

September

August

September

August

September

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

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

2,813
990
-

2,604
918
-

56,400
29,124
-

56,480
25,979
-

20.05
29.42
-

21.69
28.30
-

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

(D)
1,928
1,015
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
1,880
913
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
70,960
39,530
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
71,834
35,319
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
36.80
38.96
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
38.20
38.68
(D)
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
3,361
906
(D)

(D)
3,471
975
(D)

(D)
73,448
28,796
(D)

(D)
76,741
30,995
(D)

(D)
21.86
31.78
(D)

(D)
22.11
31.79
(D)

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

(D)
1,930
482
(D)
656
(D)
(D)

(D)
1,990
457
(D)
670
(D)
(D)

(D)
70,336
20,104
(D)
16,891
(D)
(D)

(D)
74,023
18,652
(D)
17,772
(D)
(D)

(D)
36.44
41.75
(D)
25.76
(D)
(D)

(D)
37.20
40.82
(D)
26.53
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
460
(D)
2,229
(D)
-

(D)
516
(D)
(D)
2,124
(D)
-

(D)
6,184
(D)
59,782
(D)
-

(D)
7,423
(D)
(D)
58,461
(D)
-

(D)
13.45
(D)
26.82
(D)
-

(D)
14.38
(D)
(D)
27.53
(D)
-

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

19,096

18,889

557,669

561,099

29.20

29.71

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

10

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Young Turkeys, Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations – States and United States:
August and September 2015
[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

August

September

August

September

August

September

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

(percent)

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

46,945
23,389
-

47,491
20,892
-

285
192
-

298
177
-

(X)
(X)
(X)
0.60
0.81
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)

(X)
(X)
(X)
0.62
0.84
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)

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

(D)
57,358
31,061
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
58,063
27,526
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
919
567
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
1,038
567
(D)
(D)
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
1.58
1.79
(D)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
1.76
2.02
(D)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)

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

(D)
58,646
23,366
(D)

(D)
61,294
25,112
(D)

(D)
1,079
187
(D)

(D)
1,122
190
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.81
(X)
0.79
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.80
(X)
0.75
(X)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)

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

(D)
55,463
16,061
(D)
13,385
(D)
(D)

(D)
58,118
14,890
(D)
14,218
(D)
(D)

(D)
749
357
(D)
211
(D)
(D)

(D)
735
339
(D)
225
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.33
(X)
2.18
(X)
(D)
1.55
(D)
(D)

(X)
(D)
1.25
(X)
2.22
(X)
(D)
1.56
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
5,315
(D)
48,534
(D)
-

(D)
6,178
(D)
(D)
47,435
(D)
-

(D)
36
(D)
551
(D)
-

(D)
41
(D)
(D)
592
(D)
-

(D)
(X)
0.68
(D)
(X)
1.12
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

(D)
(X)
0.66
(D)
(D)
1.23
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)

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

447,301

450,088

6,470

6,616

1.43

1.45

- 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 (October 2015)
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 (October 2015)
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 300 plants slaughtered poultry in the United
States under Federal Inspection in 2012. Young chickens were slaughtered in 37 States, young turkeys in 28 States.
Revision Policy: Data for the previous month and year-to-date totals are subject to revision the following month after the
initial monthly estimates are published. Final data are published in the annual summary released in February and include
any revisions made to current year’s and previous year’s published data. Revisions are generally the result of late reports
or corrections received by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half of one percent. No revisions will be made
to the previous year’s data after publication of the annual summary in February.
Procedures and Reliability: Plant inspectors submit data electronically for each shift a plant operates. An edit provides
checks for the detection of errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data. Data are accumulated
to monthly totals for this release.
Data for major slaughter plants with missing reports are adjusted prior to publication to assure that all plants slaughtering
a significant portion of a specific class are included. Estimates for missing shifts are made only after verifying that the
plant was in operation. Adjustments are based on a shift determined to be similar to the one missing. Late reports replace
imputed data as they become available. While there is a varying degree of incompleteness from month to month, it has
only a minimal impact on the published totals.
Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and, therefore, have no sampling error. However,
they may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the
data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful
review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .................................................................. (202) 720-4447
Aaron Cosgrove – Egg Products, Poultry Slaughter, Trout Production ................................................... (202) 690-3237
Alissa Cowell-Mytar – Cold Storage ....................................................................................................... (202) 720-4751
Heidi Gleich – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ................................................................................ (202) 720-0585
Tom Kruchten – Census of Aquaculture .................................................................................................. (202) 690-4870
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-8632
Sammy Neal – Catfish Production, Mink, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ......................................... (202) 720-3244
Joshua O’Rear – Honey ............................................................................................................................ (202) 690-3676

Poultry Slaughter (October 2015)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

13

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
 All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: http://www.nass.usda.gov
 Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free
subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Follow NASS” box under “Receive reports by Email,”
click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would like to receive.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.

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

USDA NASS Data Users’ Meeting
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
University of Chicago – Gleacher Center
450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-464-8787
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will be organizing an open forum for data users.
The purpose will be to provide updates on pending changes in the various statistical and information
programs and seek comments and input from data users. Other USDA agencies to be represented will
include the Agricultural Marketing Service, the Economic Research Service, the Foreign Agricultural
Service, and the World Agricultural Outlook Board. The Foreign Trade Division from the Census
Bureau will also be included in the meeting.
For registration details or additional information for the Data Users’ Meeting, see the NASS homepage
at http://www.nass.usda.gov/meeting/ or contact Tina Hall (NASS) at 202-720-3896 or at
tina.hall@nass.usda.gov .
This Data Users’ Meeting precedes the Industry Outlook Conference that will be held at the same
location on Thursday, October 29, 2015. The outlook meeting brings together analysts from various
commodity sectors to discuss the outlook situation. For registration details or additional information for
the Industry Outlook Conference, see the conference webpage on the LMIC website:
http://lmic.info/page/meetings. For more information, contact James Robb at (303) 716-9933.