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U.S. poultry production up 2% in August

The USDA says August poultry production was up 2% on the year at 4.470 billion pounds.

The preliminary live weight of all poultry was also 2% above a year ago at 5.907 billion pounds and average live weights were mostly heavier, with a 2% increase in the chicken kill cancelling out lower slaughter rates for turkeys and ducks. The average live weight of all chickens was 6.28 pounds per bird, 2% higher, with a 6% jump in mature chickens, while turkeys averaged 30.66 pounds, 1% heavier, but ducks averaged 6.84 pounds, down 1%. The chicken kill was 834.286 million head, a 2% year to year rise, with turkeys at 21.121 million, a 5% decline, and the duck slaughter was 2.3 million head, 1% lower.

Ante-mortem condemnations were 14.387 million head, up 6% from August 2017, representing 0.24% of the preliminary live weight, and post-mortem condemnations were 37.316 million pounds, down 5% from last year, or 0.83% of monthly production.

For the year to date, poultry production is 32.979 billion pounds, 2% ahead of a year ago, with a 3% increase in chicken production and 5% rise for duck offsetting a 1% decline in turkey and 2% reduction for other types of poultry.

The USDA’s most recent cold storage report showed record high levels of poultry for the end of August, including a new all-time high in chicken, as production outpaced domestic and export demand.

The next set of cold storage numbers is out in October.