Young chickens slaughtered during March 2022 averaged 6.42 pounds per bird, up slightly from March 2021. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.87 pounds per bird, up two percent from a year ago.
Poultry certified wholesome during March 2022 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 4.56 billion pounds, down one percent from the amount certified in March 2021. The February 2022 revised certified total at 3.96 billion pounds, was up 6 percent from February 2021. The February revision represented an increase of 7.01 million pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.
Ante-mortem condemnations during March 2022 totaled 13.4 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.22 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.21 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 28.6 million pounds, were 0.62 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.64 percent a year earlier.
March 2021 contained 23 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays. March 2022 contained 23 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturday.
USDA’s Poultry Slaughter report can be viewed here.
