Pou 2-1  (2-09)
                                                                                
Poultry
Slaughter
                                                                                
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.
                                                                                
Released February 25, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For 
information on "Poultry Slaughter" call Fleming Gibson at 202-690-3237, 
office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
                                                                                
         Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 12 Percent from Last Year
                                                                                
Poultry certified wholesome during January 2009 (ready-to-cook weight) 
totaled 3.39 billion pounds, down 12 percent from the amount certified in 
January 2008.  The December 2008 revised certified total at 
3.47 billion pounds, was up 2 percent from December 2007.  The December 
revision represented an increase of 717 thousand pounds from last month's 
preliminary pounds certified.
                                                                                
The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during January 2009 
was 4.53 billion pounds, down 12 percent from 5.16 billion pounds a year ago.  
Young chickens inspected totaled 3.86 billion pounds, down 12 percent from 
January 2008.  Mature chickens, at 62.1 million pounds, were down 15 percent 
from the previous year.  Turkey inspections totaled 594 million pounds, down 
14 percent from a year ago.  Ducks totaled 13.0 million pounds, down 
11 percent from last year.
                                                                                
Young chickens slaughtered during January 2009 averaged 5.56 pounds per bird, 
down slightly from January 2008.  The average live weight of mature chickens 
was 5.63 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago.  Turkeys 
slaughtered during January 2009 averaged 30.5 pounds per bird, up slightly 
from January 2008.
                                                                                
Ante-mortem condemnations during January 2009 totaled 15.1 million pounds.  
Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared 
with 0.39 percent a year earlier.  Post-mortem condemnations, at 
41.3 million pounds, were 1.20 percent of quantities inspected, as compared 
with 1.31 percent a year earlier.
                                                                                
January 2009 contained 22 weekdays (including two holiday) and 5 Saturdays, 
while January 2008 had 23 weekdays (including two holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
                                                                                
                                  Special Note                                  
                                                                                
Beginning with this monthly release of the Poultry Slaughter report, young 
chicken post-mortem State level data by cause for Kentucky, Louisiana, 
Maryland, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee has 
been discontinued.  Young chicken post-mortem State level data by cause will 
continue to be published for the nine remaining states.
                                                                                
    Poultry Slaughter:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type,   
                      United States, January, 2008-2009 1/                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :         :         :         : Pct of  :       January       :    
             :         :         :         :---------:       to Date       :Pct 
  Commodity  :   Jan   :   Dec   :   Jan   :Jan :Dec :---------------------: of 
             :  2008   :  2008   :  2009   :2008:2008:   2008   :   2009   :2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :--------- 1,000 Head --------    Pct    ---- 1,000 Head ----  Pct 
             :                                                                  
Number       :                                                                  
Slaughtered  :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    :  786,973   709,846   694,679  88   98    786,973    694,679   88 
    Mature   :   12,970    11,476    11,031  85   96     12,970     11,031   85 
      Light  :    6,333     5,527     5,238  83   95      6,333      5,238   83 
      Heavy  :    6,637     5,949     5,793  87   97      6,637      5,793   87 
    Total    :  799,943   721,322   705,710  88   98    799,943    705,710   88 
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :   22,584    20,732    19,251  85   93     22,584     19,251   85 
    Old      :      118       171       203 172  119        118        203  172 
    Total    :   22,702    20,903    19,454  86   93     22,702     19,454   86 
             :                                                                  
  Ducks      :    2,155     2,196     1,953  91   89      2,155      1,953   91 
             :                                                                  
             :-------- 1,000 Pounds -------    Pct    --- 1,000 Pounds ---  Pct 
             :                                                                  
Live Weight  :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    :4,380,786 3,943,792 3,863,528  88   98  4,380,786  3,863,528   88 
    Mature   :   73,348    63,823    62,095  85   97     73,348     62,095   85 
      Light  :   20,601    17,807    16,839  82   95     20,601     16,839   82 
      Heavy  :   52,747    46,016    45,256  86   98     52,747     45,256   86 
    Total    :4,454,134 4,007,615 3,925,623  88   98  4,454,134  3,925,623   88 
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :  686,334   613,756   587,982  86   96    686,334    587,982   86 
    Old      :    3,039     4,662     5,613 185  120      3,039      5,613  185 
    Total    :  689,373   618,418   593,595  86   96    689,373    593,595   86 
             :                                                                  
  Ducks      :   14,599    14,744    12,992  89   88     14,599     12,992   89 
  Other      :                                                                  
   Poultry 2/:      175       205       152  87   74        175        152   87 
             :                                                                  
  Total      :                                                                  
   Poultry   :5,158,281 4,640,982 4,532,362  88   98  5,158,281  4,532,362   88 
             :                                                                  
             :    --------- Pounds --------    Pct        ---- Pounds ----  Pct 
             :                                                                  
Avg Live     :                                                                  
Weight       :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    :     5.57      5.56      5.56 100  100       5.57       5.56  100 
    Mature   :     5.66      5.56      5.63  99  101       5.66       5.63   99 
      Light  :     3.25      3.22      3.21  99  100       3.25       3.21   99 
      Heavy  :     7.95      7.74      7.81  98  101       7.95       7.81   98 
    Total    :     5.57      5.56      5.56 100  100       5.57       5.56  100 
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :    30.39     29.60     30.54 100  103      30.39      30.54  100 
    Old      :    25.75     27.26     27.65 107  101      25.75      27.65  107 
    Total    :    30.37     29.59     30.51 100  103      30.37      30.51  100 
             :                                                                  
  Ducks      :     6.77      6.71      6.65  98   99       6.77       6.65   98 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Federally inspected only.                                                    
2/ Includes geese, guineas, ostriches, emus, rheas,  and squab.                 
                                                                                
         Poultry Slaughter:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,        
                       United States, January, 2008-2009 1/                       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :         :         :         :  Pct of   :       January       :      
           :         :         :         :-----------:       to Date       : Pct  
 Commodity :   Jan   :   Dec   :   Jan   : Jan : Dec :---------------------:  of  
           :  2008   :  2008   :  2009   :2008 :2008 :   2008   :   2009   : 2008 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :-------- 1,000 Pounds -------  --- Pct -- --- 1,000 Pounds ---   Pct  
           :                                                                      
Chilled    :                                                                      
 Chickens  :                                                                      
   Young   :2,942,858 2,667,931 2,617,585   89     98 2,942,858  2,617,585    89  
   Mature  :   44,471    39,435    37,903   85     96    44,471     37,903    85  
     Light :    9,993     9,100     8,361   84     92     9,993      8,361    84  
     Heavy :   34,478    30,335    29,542   86     97    34,478     29,542    86  
   Total   :2,987,329 2,707,366 2,655,488   89     98 2,987,329  2,655,488    89  
           :                                                                      
 Turkeys   :                                                                      
   Young   :  309,812   309,400   289,229   93     93   309,812    289,229    93  
   Old     :    1,896     2,613     2,412  127     92     1,896      2,412   127  
   Total   :  311,708   312,013   291,641   94     93   311,708    291,641    94  
           :                                                                      
 Ducks     :    4,968     3,839     3,390   68     88     4,968      3,390    68  
 Other     :                                                                      
  Poultry2/:       84       104        74   88     71        84         74    88  
           :                                                                      
 Total     :                                                                      
  Poultry  :3,304,089 3,023,322 2,950,593   89     98 3,304,089  2,950,593    89  
           :                                                                      
Frozen     :                                                                      
 Chickens  :                                                                      
   Young   :  294,383   263,690   253,040   86     96   294,383    253,040    86  
   Mature  :    1,268       276       416   33    151     1,268        416    33  
     Light :      931         8       112   12  1,400       931        112    12  
     Heavy :      337       268       304   90    113       337        304    90  
   Total   :  295,651   263,966   253,456   86     96   295,651    253,456    86  
           :                                                                      
 Turkeys   :                                                                      
   Young   :  234,355   178,845   176,195   75     99   234,355    176,195    75  
   Old     :      355       953     1,899  535    199       355      1,899   535  
   Total   :  234,710   179,798   178,094   76     99   234,710    178,094    76  
           :                                                                      
 Ducks     :    5,487     6,685     5,887  107     88     5,487      5,887   107  
 Other     :                                                                      
  Poultry2/:       35        31        22   63     71        35         22    63  
           :                                                                      
 Total     :                                                                      
  Poultry  :  535,883   450,480   437,459   82     97   535,883    437,459    82  
           :                                                                      
Chilled and:                                                                      
 Frozen    :                                                                      
 Chickens  :                                                                      
   Young   :3,237,241 2,931,621 2,870,625   89     98 3,237,241  2,870,625    89  
   Mature  :   45,739    39,711    38,319   84     96    45,739     38,319    84  
     Light :   10,924     9,108     8,473   78     93    10,924      8,473    78  
     Heavy :   34,815    30,603    29,846   86     98    34,815     29,846    86  
   Total   :3,282,980 2,971,332 2,908,944   89     98 3,282,980  2,908,944    89  
           :                                                                      
 Turkeys   :                                                                      
   Young   :  544,167   488,245   465,424   86     95   544,167    465,424    86  
   Old     :    2,251     3,566     4,311  192    121     2,251      4,311   192  
   Total   :  546,418   491,811   469,735   86     96   546,418    469,735    86  
           :                                                                      
 Ducks     :   10,455    10,524     9,277   89     88    10,455      9,277    89  
 Other     :                                                                      
  Poultry2/:      119       135        96   81     71       119         96    81  
           :                                                                      
 Total     :                                                                      
  Poultry  :3,839,972 3,473,802 3,388,052   88     98 3,839,972  3,388,052    88  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Ready-to-cook weights.                                                         
2/ Includes geese, guineas, and squab.                                            
                                                                                
             Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem Condemnations by Type,             
                      United States, January, 2008-2009 1/                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :       :       :       :Percent of :    January    :        
                   :       :       :       :-----------:    to Date    :Percent 
     Commodity     :  Jan  :  Dec  :  Jan  : Jan : Dec :---------------:   of   
                   : 2008  : 2008  : 2009  :2008 :2008 : 2008  : 2009  :  2008  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :---- 1,000 Pounds ----    Percent    1,000 Pounds   Percent 
                   :                                                            
Live Weight        :                                                            
                   :                                                            
  Chickens         :                                                            
    Young          :16,331  11,563  11,961    73   103  16,331  11,961     73   
    Mature         : 1,444   1,159   1,239    86   107   1,444   1,239     86   
      Light        :   395     289     375    95   130     395     375     95   
      Heavy        : 1,049     870     864    82    99   1,049     864     82   
    Total          :17,775  12,722  13,200    74   104  17,775  13,200     74   
                   :                                                            
  Turkeys          :                                                            
    Young          : 2,107   1,599   1,844    88   115   2,107   1,844     88   
    Old            :    50      52      57   114   110      50      57    114   
    Total          : 2,157   1,651   1,901    88   115   2,157   1,901     88   
                   :                                                            
  Ducks            :    30      53      45   150    85      30      45    150   
                   :                                                            
  Total Poultry    :19,962  14,426  15,146    76   105  19,962  15,146     76   
                   :                                                            
                   :                          Percent                           
                   :                                                            
Percent of Live    :                                                            
Weight Condemned 2/:                                                            
                   :                                                            
  Chickens         :                                                            
    Young          :  0.37    0.29    0.31    84   107    0.37    0.31     84   
    Mature         :  1.97    1.82    2.00   102   110    1.97    2.00    102   
      Light        :  1.92    1.62    2.23   116   138    1.92    2.23    116   
      Heavy        :  1.99    1.89    1.91    96   101    1.99    1.91     96   
    Total          :  0.40    0.32    0.34    85   106    0.40    0.34     85   
                   :                                                            
  Turkeys          :                                                            
    Young          :  0.31    0.26    0.31   100   119    0.31    0.31    100   
    Old            :  1.65    1.12    1.02    62    91    1.65    1.02     62   
    Total          :  0.31    0.27    0.32   103   119    0.31    0.32    103   
                   :                                                            
  Ducks            :  0.21    0.36    0.35   167    97    0.21    0.35    167   
                   :                                                            
  Total Poultry    :  0.39    0.31    0.33    85   106    0.39    0.33     85   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.                                                   
2/  Pounds condemned as a percent of live weight pounds inspected.              
                                                                                
             Poultry Slaughter:  Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type,             
                      United States, January, 2008-2009 1/                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :       :       :       :Percent of :    January    :        
                   :       :       :       :-----------:    to Date    :Percent 
     Commodity     :  Jan  :  Dec  :  Jan  : Jan : Dec :---------------:   of   
                   : 2008  : 2008  : 2009  :2008 :2008 : 2008  : 2009  :  2008  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   :---- 1,000 Pounds ----    Percent    1,000 Pounds   Percent 
                   :                                                            
Carcass and Parts  :                                                            
                   :                                                            
  Chickens         :                                                            
    Young          :37,861  29,588  29,913    79   101  37,861  29,913     79   
    Mature         : 3,394   3,024   3,016    89   100   3,394   3,016     89   
      Light        : 1,249   1,225   1,218    98    99   1,249   1,218     98   
      Heavy        : 2,145   1,799   1,798    84   100   2,145   1,798     84   
    Total          :41,255  32,612  32,929    80   101  41,255  32,929     80   
                   :                                                            
  Turkeys          :                                                            
    Young          : 9,387   7,854   7,795    83    99   9,387   7,795     83   
    Old            :   176     166     184   105   111     176     184    105   
    Total          : 9,563   8,020   7,979    83    99   9,563   7,979     83   
                   :                                                            
  Ducks            :   286     375     364   127    97     286     364    127   
  Other Poultry    :     1       1       1   100   100       1       1    100   
                   :                                                            
  Total Poultry    :51,105  41,008  41,273    81   101  51,105  41,273     81   
                   :                                                            
                   :                          Percent                           
                   :                                                            
Percent of         :                                                            
Weight Condemned 2/:                                                            
                   :                                                            
  Chickens         :                                                            
    Young          :  1.16    1.00    1.03    89   103    1.16    1.03     89   
    Mature         :  6.91    7.08    7.30   106   103    6.91    7.30    106   
      Light        : 10.26   11.86   12.57   123   106   10.26   12.57    123   
      Heavy        :  5.80    5.55    5.68    98   102    5.80    5.68     98   
    Total          :  1.24    1.09    1.12    90   103    1.24    1.12     90   
                   :                                                            
  Turkeys          :                                                            
    Young          :  1.70    1.58    1.65    97   104    1.70    1.65     97   
    Old            :  7.25    4.45    4.09    56    92    7.25    4.09     56   
    Total          :  1.72    1.60    1.67    97   104    1.72    1.67     97   
                   :                                                            
  Ducks            :  2.66    3.44    3.78   142   110    2.66    3.78    142   
  Other Poultry    :  0.83    0.74    1.03   124   139    0.83    1.03    124   
                   :                                                            
  Total Poultry    :  1.31    1.17    1.20    92   103    1.31    1.20     92   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.                                                   
2/  Pounds condemned as a percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem          
    condemnations.                                                              
                                                                                
       Poultry Slaughter:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, by Type,      
                    United States, December 2008-January 2009                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Commodity  :    Tuberculosis     :      Leukosis       :     Septicaemia      
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    :                        6,486      10,664      886,408    889,266 
    Mature   :                        1,586       1,373      196,267    190,619 
      Light  :                        1,480       1,293      163,330    161,321 
      Heavy  :                          106          80       32,937     29,298 
    Total    :                        8,072      12,037    1,082,675  1,079,885 
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :                          104          81       58,920     53,528 
    Old      :                                                 2,187      2,721 
    Total    :                          104          81       61,107     56,249 
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Commodity  :    Airsacculitis    :      Synovitis      :        Tumors        
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    : 525,816    649,595     6,897      16,253      51,932     48,565  
    Mature   :  11,096     10,369       257         347      60,738     61,434  
      Light  :   8,233      6,791        75         181      53,843     55,714  
      Heavy  :   2,863      3,578       182         166       6,895      5,720  
    Total    : 536,912    659,964     7,154      16,600     112,670    109,999  
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :   4,968      8,489     2,606       3,032          88         79  
    Old      :     379        303         1           1          47         46  
    Total    :   5,347      8,792     2,607       3,033         135        125  
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Commodity  :       Bruises       :       Cadaver       :    Contamination     
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    :  13,639     13,420     83,175     87,718     111,836    117,911  
    Mature   :  11,389     13,584      3,375      4,206      99,258    115,682  
      Light  :  10,464     12,874      2,061      2,878      89,910    103,748  
      Heavy  :     925        710      1,314      1,328       9,348     11,934  
    Total    :  25,028     27,004     86,550     91,924     211,094    233,593  
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :     224        197      2,381      2,160       2,648      2,455  
    Old      :       5          8         28         64         182        135  
    Total    :     229        205      2,409      2,224       2,830      2,590  
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Commodity  :      Overscald      :        Other        :        Total         
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  Chickens   :                                                                  
    Young    :  42,713     27,717    773,256    805,906    2,502,158  2,667,015 
    Mature   :   2,430      1,420    164,184    147,549      550,580    546,583 
      Light  :   1,068        240     65,773     58,219      396,237    403,259 
      Heavy  :   1,362      1,180     98,411     89,330      154,343    143,324 
    Total    :  45,143     29,137    937,440    953,455    3,052,738  3,213,598 
             :                                                                  
  Turkeys    :                                                                  
    Young    :     816        511     10,924     11,712       83,679     82,244 
    Old      :       8         22        164        262        3,001      3,562 
    Total    :     824        533     11,088     11,974       86,680     85,806 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
   Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,   
             by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :        Number         :                         :      Average      
          :      Slaughtered      :       Live Weight       :    Live Weight    
   State  :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : December  :  January  :  December  :  January   :December : January 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  ---- 1,000 Head ---    ---- 1,000 Pounds ----     --- Pounds ---   
          :                                                                     
AL        :   84,905      83,338      455,722      450,675     5.37      5.41   
AR        :   86,669      81,551      484,516      457,715     5.59      5.61   
DE        :   24,582      24,264      171,259      164,707     6.97      6.79   
GA        :  103,592     101,296      544,997      524,589     5.26      5.18   
KY        :   24,014      20,902      128,853      111,684     5.37      5.34   
LA        :   14,362      14,743       84,156       85,826     5.86      5.82   
MD        :   10,990      10,536       54,006       47,172     4.91      4.48   
MS        :   61,454      59,026      351,086      338,559     5.71      5.74   
MO        :   33,779      32,676      159,595      155,470     4.72      4.76   
NY        :    1,580       1,568        8,225        8,157     5.21      5.20   
NC        :   59,362      61,361      414,205      425,699     6.98      6.94   
OH        :    4,371       4,417       25,097       26,463     5.74      5.99   
PA        :    9,545       9,448       55,292       53,628     5.79      5.68   
SC        :   24,508      23,440      153,996      150,170     6.28      6.41   
TN        :   21,028      20,776      110,049      107,880     5.23      5.19   
TX        :   56,399      55,056      295,533      286,959     5.24      5.21   
VA        :   26,062      26,464      124,366      129,134     4.77      4.88   
          :                                                                     
US 1/     :  709,846     694,679    3,943,792    3,863,528     5.56      5.56   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations.               
1/  Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure.                
                                                                                
   Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations  
             by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                         :         Post-Mortem Condemnations         
          :Total Chilled and Frozen :-------------------------------------------
   State  :   Pounds Certified 1/   :  Carcass and Parts  :     Percent 2/      
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  December  :  January   : December : January  : December : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          : --------------- 1,000 Pounds ---------------      --- Percent ---   
          :                                                                     
AL        :   342,560      339,309      2,931      2,980      0.85       0.87   
AR        :   349,968      329,659      3,906      3,766      1.10       1.13   
DE        :   123,463      118,582      1,500      1,487      1.20       1.24   
GA        :   409,533      393,098      3,269      3,568      0.79       0.90   
KY        :    94,613       81,558      1,007      1,544      1.05       1.86   
LA        :    62,160       63,196        296        352      0.47       0.55   
MD        :    39,112       33,949        559        540      1.41       1.57   
MS        :   265,884      256,961      2,500      2,212      0.93       0.85   
MO        :   117,421      114,117      1,408      1,218      1.18       1.06   
NY        :     4,981        4,978        103        115      2.02       2.25   
NC        :   318,655      327,225      4,295      4,150      1.33       1.25   
OH        :    18,596       19,523        320        325      1.69       1.64   
PA        :    38,284       37,318      1,027        868      2.61       2.27   
SC        :   115,617      112,931        820        809      0.70       0.71   
TN        :    79,694       78,147        590        580      0.74       0.74   
TX        :   227,936      222,266      1,810      2,008      0.79       0.90   
VA        :    86,964       89,852        640        734      0.73       0.81   
          :                                                                     
US 3/     : 2,931,621    2,870,625     29,588     29,913      1.00       1.03   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations.               
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.                                                      
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem            
    condemnations.                                                              
3/  Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure.                
                                                                                
       Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,      
             by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State    :    Tuberculosis     :      Leukosis       :     Septicaemia      
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  AL         :                            *           *      57,357     59,025  
  AR         :                          373           *     126,290    121,988  
  DE         :                            *           *      61,227     55,764  
  GA         :                          109           *      66,212     70,935  
  MS         :                            *           *      32,371     28,425  
  MO         :                          300         290      86,918     75,130  
  NC         :                            *           *      95,325     95,225  
  TX         :                           90          42      41,946     51,422  
  VA         :                            *         100      25,225     30,470  
             :                                                                  
  US 1/      :                        6,486      10,664     886,408    889,266  
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State    :    Airsacculitis    :      Synovitis      :        Tumors        
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  AL         :  64,139     72,170       320         548          *           *  
  AR         :  36,864     31,724     1,996       2,282      2,354       2,311  
  DE         :  23,445     33,054         *           *      6,937       6,850  
  GA         : 103,186     99,435         *         391          *           *  
  MS         :  23,471     22,316         *           *        621         442  
  MO         :  18,208     14,325       175         135      1,686       1,417  
  NC         :  66,806     60,274         *           *      9,683       9,679  
  TX         :  14,074     27,321        46          44        685         614  
  VA         :  17,668     21,273         *          20          *           *  
             :                                                                  
  US 1/      : 525,816    649,595     6,897      16,253     51,932      48,565  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State    :       Bruises       :       Cadaver       :    Contamination     
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  AL         :   1,524      1,413      5,401      6,493       9,059      9,512  
  AR         :   1,654      1,870     12,339     10,692      10,202      9,502  
  DE         :     738        614      3,219      2,635       3,735      2,642  
  GA         :   1,112        989     17,334     17,198      10,044      8,653  
  MS         :       *          *      2,085      2,775           *          *  
  MO         :     644        588      2,433      3,115       6,404      6,842  
  NC         :   1,358      1,290     11,967     13,048       7,191      7,084  
  TX         :     345        319      3,715      3,859       5,537      5,881  
  VA         :     761        699      1,655      1,770       2,571      2,725  
             :                                                                  
  US 1/      :  13,639     13,420     83,175     87,718     111,836    117,911  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    State    :      Overscald      :        Other        :        Total         
             :------------------------------------------------------------------
             : December : January  : December : January  : December  : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :                          Number of Head                          
             :                                                                  
  AL         :   3,767      2,737    103,231    120,196      248,426    275,331 
  AR         :   1,767          *     61,875     81,288      255,714    263,657 
  DE         :   1,350          *     20,667     24,806      122,634    128,239 
  GA         :   3,367      3,662     70,615    104,290      281,639    314,576 
  MS         :       *          *     52,546     43,914      118,639    105,942 
  MO         :      74        488     91,033     74,708      207,875    177,038 
  NC         :  11,179      7,293    113,162     81,599      317,101    277,016 
  TX         :     776        569     48,975     58,114      116,189    148,185 
  VA         :     996        787     20,609          *       72,599     91,712 
             :                                                                  
  US 1/      :  42,713     27,717    773,256    805,906    2,502,158  2,667,015 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations.               
1/  Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure.                
                                                                                
          Young Turkeys Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average          
       Live Weight, by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :        Number         :                         :      Average      
          :      Slaughtered      :       Live Weight       :    Live Weight    
   State  :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : December  :  January  :  December  :  January   :December : January 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  --- 1,000 Head ---      --- 1,000 Pounds ---      ---- Pounds ---  
          :                                                                     
AR        :   3,136       2,568       61,129       49,339      19.49     19.21  
MN        :   3,210       2,957       90,567       81,467      28.21     27.55  
MO        :       *           *            *            *       *         *     
          :                                                                     
US 1/     :  20,732      19,251      613,756      587,982      29.60     30.54  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations.               
1/  Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure.                
                                                                                
          Young Turkeys Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem          
      Condemnations, by State and United States, December 2008-January 2009     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                         :         Post-Mortem Condemnations         
          :Total Chilled and Frozen :-------------------------------------------
   State  :   Pounds Certified 1/   :  Carcass and Parts  :     Percent 2/      
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  December  :  January   : December : January  : December : January  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  -------------- 1,000 Pounds --------------       --- Percent ---   
          :                                                                     
AR        :   50,528       40,586        726        683       1.42       1.65   
MN        :   72,223       64,801      1,389      1,287       1.89       1.95   
MO        :        *            *          *          *       *          *      
          :                                                                     
US 3/     :  488,245      465,424      7,854      7,795       1.58       1.65   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*  Included in "US" to avoid disclosure of individual operations.               
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.                                                      
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of pounds certified plus post-mortem            
    condemnations.                                                              
3/  Published States do not add to US total to avoid disclosure.                
                                                                                
          Terms and Definitions Used for Poultry Slaughter Estimates:           
                                                                                
Ante-Mortem Condemnations - Birds condemned prior to their entry into the 
slaughter plant.
                                                                                
Certified Ready-to-Cook - The weight of poultry certified wholesome by 
inspection after post-mortem condemnation pounds are removed.  Ready-to-cook 
represents poultry meat ready for the marketing channel.
                                                                                
Ducks - Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight. 
                                                                                
Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and 
cocks.
                                                                                
Old Turkeys - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 
months of age. 
                                                                                
Post-Mortem Condemnations - Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector 
because of disease or mishandling and removed from the slaughter line and 
destroyed.
                                                                                
Young Chickens - Commercially grown broilers-fryers and other young immature 
birds such as roasters and capons. 
                                                                                
Young Turkeys - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about 5 months. 
                                                                                
                   Reliability of Poultry Slaughter Estimates                   
                                                                                
Data Sources:  Data for poultry slaughter estimates are collected by 
inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA for all 
Federally Inspected (FI) plants.  Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter 
for any species is under FI.  The number of head slaughtered daily, by 
species and class, as well as condemnations and total live and dressed 
weights are obtained by shift for each plant.  Approximately 320 plants 
slaughtered poultry in the U.S. under Federal Inspection in 2008.  Young 
chickens were slaughtered in 35 States, young turkeys in 26 States.
                                                                                
Revision Policy:  Data for the previous month and year-to-date totals are 
subject to revision the following month after the initial monthly estimates 
are published.  Final data are published in the annual summary released in 
February and include any revisions made to current year's and previous year's 
published data.  Revisions are generally the result of late reports or 
corrections received by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half 
of 1 percent.  No revisions will be made to the previous year's data after 
publication of the annual summary in February.  
                                                                                
Procedures and Reliability:  Plant inspectors submit data electronically for 
each shift a plant operates.  An edit provides checks for the detection of 
errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data.  
Data are accumulated to monthly totals for this release. 
					
Data for major slaughter plants with missing reports are adjusted prior to 
publication to assure that all plants slaughtering a significant portion of a 
specific class are included.  Estimates for missing shifts are made only 
after verifying that the plant was in operation.  Adjustments are based on a 
shift determined to be similar to the one missing.  Late reports replace 
imputed data as they become available.  While there is a varying degree of 
incompleteness from month to month, it has only a minimal impact on the 
published totals.
                                                                                
Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and, 
therefore, have no sampling error.  However, they may be subject to errors 
such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and 
processing the data.  These errors are minimized through strict quality 
controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all 
reported data for consistency and reasonableness.
  
State data are published using selected States for young chickens and young 
turkeys.  Data for all States not published and those published States that 
are confidential (denoted by an *) are included in the "US" category. 
                                                                                
                              Information Contacts                              
                                                                                
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional 
information. 
                                                                                
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch............................(202) 720-3570
                                                                                
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section.....(202) 720-4447
     David Colwell - Cold Storage................................(202) 720-8784
     Fleming Gibson - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery,
       Turkeys Raised............................................(202) 690-3237
     Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey.(202) 720-3244
     Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs..................................(202) 690-8632
     Bruce Boess - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production,
       Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products,
       Mink......................................................(202) 720-4447
                                                                                
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