News

December poultry production jumps 11%

The USDA says December 2019 poultry production was up 11% from December 2018 at 4.136 billion pounds. That includes a 13% jump for chicken to 3.677 billion pounds, cancelling out a slight decrease in turkey production to 446.679 million.

The chicken slaughter was 9% higher at 763.782 million head and the average live weight was up 3% on the year at 6.4 pounds per bird, while the turkey kill was down 2% at 16.886 million head, but also with a heavier average live weight, up 2% to 33.23 pounds per bird.

Ante-mortem condemnations were 13.148 million pounds, 8% above a year ago, representing 0.24% of the preliminary live weight, and post-mortem condemnations were 24.207 million pounds, down 1%, or 0.75% of monthly production.

The USDA says chicken in cold storage ended last year at record levels, turkey stocks dropped 23%, and total poultry stocks were 1% higher.