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December poultry production jumps 9%

 

According to USDA, U.S. poultry production during December 2014 was 3.879 billion pounds, up 9% from December 2013. Most of that was chicken, 3.391 billion pounds, 8% above a year ago, with turkey at 474.915 million pounds, a 10% increase on the year.

The preliminary live weight of all birds was 5.125 billion pounds, 8% higher, with chicken at 4.513 billion pounds, also up 8%, and turkey at 594.529 million pounds, a year to year rise of 12%.

All chickens averaged 6.09 pounds per bird in December, while turkeys averaged 31.06 pounds, both up on the year.

Ante-mortem condemnations were 12.028 million pounds, 0.23% of the preliminary live weight, and post-mortem condemnations were 40.984 million pounds, 1.05% of monthly production.

For 2014, U.S. poultry production totaled 44.957 billion pounds, 2% more than in 2013.