News

March poultry production down 2% on year

Poultry production during March was down 2% on the year at 3.937 billion pounds.

The USDA says slower slaughter rates for chickens, turkeys, and ducks, along with a lighter average weight for chickens, accounted for the decline. The chicken kill was 793.734 million head, down 2%, with the turkey slaughter at 78.027 million head, 5% lower, and duck at 2.197 million head, a decrease of 7%. All chickens averaged 6.2 pounds, 1% lighter, but turkeys averaged 33.17 pounds, 5% heavier, and ducks averaged 7.13 pounds, up 2%.

Chicken accounted for most of the monthly total at 3.448 billion pounds, a 2% decline, with turkey at 477.463 million, 1% lower, and duck at 11.426 million head, down 5%.

The preliminary live weight of all poultry was 5.201 billion pounds, also down 2% on the year.

Ante-mortem condemnations were 12.597 million pounds, 6% lower than a year ago, accounting for 0.24% of preliminary live weight. Post-mortem condemnations were 34.449 million pounds, a decrease of 9%, making up 0.87% of monthly production.

The most recent cold storage report had a 2% year to year decline for total poultry stocks.