Poultry
Slaughter
 
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 
 
Released July 6, 1999, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For information on "Poultry Slaughter" call John Lange (202) 720-0585 or
Mike Barker (202)720-3243, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
 
 
                 Ready-to-Cook Weight Up 8 Percent
 
Poultry certified wholesome during May (ready-to-cook weight), totaled
2.95 billion pounds, up 8 percent from the amount certified in May 1998.
Updated totals for April 1999 show that 3.02 billion pounds were certified.
 
The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during May 1999
was 4.01 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.36 billion pounds of
young chickens, 77.6 million pounds of mature chickens, 559 million
pounds of turkeys, and 11.9 million pounds of ducks.
 
Young chickens slaughtered during May 1999 averaged 5.04 pounds per
bird, up 4 percent from May 1998. The average live weight of mature
chickens was 5.07 pounds per bird, down 2 percent from a year ago.
Turkeys slaughtered during May 1999 averaged 25.7 pounds per bird, up 3
percent from May 1998.
 
Ante-mortem condemnations during May 1999 totaled 15.2 million pounds.
Condemnations were 0.38 percent of the live weight inspected, unchanged
from a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 64.4 million pounds
(N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.78 percent of quantities inspected,
compared with 1.85 percent a year earlier.
 
May 1999 contained 21 weekdays and five Saturdays, the same as May 1998.
 
 
         Poultry Slaughter:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight
              by Type, United States, May 1999 with Comparisons 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                                       :         :
                    :               Chickens                :         :  Other
                    :---------------------------------------:  Ducks  : Poultry
                    :    Young    : Mature 2/ :    Total    :         :
                    :----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        1,000 Head
Number Inspected    :
                    :
  Apr 1999          :     684,939      15,666       700,604     1,929   -----
  May 1998          :     635,698      14,713       650,411     1,867   -----
  May 1999          :     668,120      15,298       683,418     1,781   -----
                    :
  Jan-May 1998      :   3,226,099      71,637     3,297,737     9,393   -----
  Jan-May 1999      :   3,340,808      75,746     3,416,554     9,473   -----
                    :
                    :                       1,000 Pounds
Live Weight         :
                    :
  Apr 1999          :   3,432,314      79,358     3,511,672    12,593      900
  May 1998          :   3,085,643      76,117     3,161,759    12,218      997
  May 1999          :   3,364,490      77,631     3,442,121    11,885      868
                    :
  Jan-May 1998      :  15,704,478     361,595    16,066,073    62,477    5,277
  Jan-May 1999      :  16,755,541     382,954    17,138,494    63,108    4,142
                    :
                    :                          Pounds
Average Live Weight :
                    :
  Apr 1999          :        5.01        5.07          5.01      6.53   -----
  May 1998          :        4.85        5.17          4.86      6.54   -----
  May 1999          :        5.04        5.07          5.04      6.67   -----
                    :
  Jan-May 1998      :        4.87        5.05          4.87      6.65   -----
  Jan-May 1999      :        5.02        5.06          5.02      6.66   -----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
 
                                                                   -- continued
        Poultry Slaughter:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight
        by Type, United States, May 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                   Turkeys                  :
                    :--------------------------------------------:    Total
                    : Fryer-   :           :         :   Total   :   Poultry
                    : Roasters : Young  3/ :   Old   :  Turkeys  :
                    :----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        1,000 Head
Number Inspected    :
                    :
  Apr 1999          :     ---       21,775       175      21,950      -----
  May 1998          :     ---       21,180       108      21,288      -----
  May 1999          :      27       21,614       107      21,748      -----
                    :
  Jan-May 1998      :     ---      107,920       715     108,635      -----
  Jan-May 1999      :      27      102,638       660     103,325      -----
                    :
                    :                       1,000 Pounds
Live Weight         :
                    :
  Apr 1999          :     ---      552,727     4,693     557,419     4,082,585
  May 1998          :     ---      528,904     2,750     531,654     3,706,629
  May 1999          :     236      555,980     2,798     559,014     4,013,887
                    :
  Jan-May 1998      :     ---    2,716,442    19,230   2,735,672    18,869,499
  Jan-May 1999      :     236    2,629,900    17,691   2,647,827    19,853,570
                    :
                    :                          Pounds
Average Live Weight :
                    :
  Apr 1999          :     ---        25.38     26.83       25.39      -----
  May 1998          :     ---        24.97     25.45       24.97      -----
  May 1999          :    8.72        25.72     26.24       25.70      -----
                    :
  Jan-May 1998      :     ---        25.17     26.89       25.18      -----
  Jan-May 1999      :    8.72        25.62     26.82       25.63      -----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.  Totals may not add due to rounding.
2/  Of the Mature Chickens inspected, the number reported in thousands as
    heavy fowl (broiler breeding stock) was:  May 1998:  5,973,
    May 1999:  5,733.
3/  Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as
    young breeders was:  May 1998:     89, May 1999:     30.
 
 
       Poultry Slaughter:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
                  United States, May 1999 with Comparisons 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                                             :         :
              :                   Chickens                  :         :  Other
              :---------------------------------------------:  Ducks  : Poultry
              :     Young     :    Mature    :    Total     :         :
              :----------------------------------------------------------------
              :                          1,000 Pounds
Apr 1999      :
  Chilled     :    2,302,918        44,116       2,347,035      3,426      320
  Frozen      :      217,371         3,220         220,591      5,448      211
              :
  Total       :    2,520,290        47,336       2,567,626      8,874      531
              :
May 1998      :
  Chilled     :    2,068,562        42,067       2,110,629      3,026      371
  Frozen      :      191,061         4,043         195,105      5,652      142
              :
  Total       :    2,259,623        46,110       2,305,734      8,678      513
              :
May 1999      :
  Chilled     :    2,248,583        43,275       2,291,858      3,248      298
  Frozen      :      211,390         3,547         214,938      5,058      199
              :
  Total       :    2,459,973        46,823       2,506,796      8,305      496
              :
              :
Jan-May 1998  :
  Chilled     :   10,453,019       199,897      10,652,916     15,428    1,920
  Frozen      :    1,035,774        17,756       1,053,530     29,015    1,004
              :
  Total       :   11,488,793       217,653      11,706,446     44,443    2,924
              :
Jan-May 1999  :
  Chilled     :   11,214,342       213,855      11,428,197     17,353    1,522
  Frozen      :    1,060,881        16,842       1,077,722     26,821      856
              :
  Total       :   12,275,223       230,697      12,505,920     44,174    2,377
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
 
                                                                   -- continued
       Poultry Slaughter:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
            United States, May 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                     Turkeys                    :
              :------------------------------------------------:     Total
              :  Fryer-    :           :           :   Total   :    Poultry
              :  Roasters  :   Young   :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
              :----------------------------------------------------------------
              :                          1,000 Pounds
Apr 1999      :
  Chilled     :      ---       199,784      2,581      202,365      2,553,146
  Frozen      :      ---       235,993        934      236,927        463,177
              :
  Total       :      ---       435,778      3,515      439,293      3,016,323
              :
May 1998      :
  Chilled     :      ---       195,582      1,238      196,820      2,310,846
  Frozen      :      ---       223,558        780      224,338        425,237
              :
  Total       :      ---       419,141      2,018      421,158      2,736,083
              :
May 1999      :
  Chilled     :       21       192,170      1,514      193,704      2,489,107
  Frozen      :      146       244,909        603      245,657        465,852
              :
  Total       :      166       437,078      2,117      439,361      2,954,958
              :
              :
Jan-May 1998  :
  Chilled     :      ---     1,028,362      9,606    1,037,969     11,708,232
  Frozen      :      ---     1,110,777      4,847    1,115,624      2,199,173
              :
  Total       :      ---     2,139,140     14,453    2,153,592     13,907,406
              :
Jan-May 1999  :
  Chilled     :       21       960,847      9,654      970,522     12,417,594
  Frozen      :      146     1,110,692      3,601    1,114,438      2,219,838
              :
  Total       :      166     2,071,539     13,255    2,084,960     14,637,431
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.  Totals may not add due to rounding.
 
 
         Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
              by Type, United States, May 1999 with Comparisons 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :                                    :         :
                       :              Chickens              :         :  Other
                       :------------------------------------:  Ducks  : Poultry
                       :   Young   :   Mature   :   Total   :         :
                       :-------------------------------------------------------
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Ante-Mortem            :
 (Live Weight)         :
                       :
  Apr 1999             :   12,716       1,734       14,450        16        6
  May 1998             :   11,099       1,485       12,584        13       11
  May 1999             :   12,729       1,087       13,816        16        4
                       :
  Jan-May 1998         :   60,282       5,601       65,883        58       21
  Jan-May 1999         :   68,751       5,877       74,627        81       24
                       :
Percent 2/             :
                       :
  May 1998             :     0.36        1.95         0.40      0.11     1.13
  May 1999             :     0.38        1.40         0.40      0.13     0.47
                       :
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Post-Mortem            :
 (N.Y. Dressed Weight) :
                       :
  Apr 1999             :   52,818       5,039       57,857       324        7
  May 1998             :   47,607       4,082       51,688       260        8
  May 1999             :   48,383       4,893       53,276       290        8
                       :
  Jan-May 1998         :  254,130      21,243      275,374     1,293       48
  Jan-May 1999         :  263,167      23,794      286,961     1,511       32
                       :
Percent 3/             :
                       :
  May 1998             :     1.71        5.96         1.82      2.37     0.92
  May 1999             :     1.60        7.00         1.72      2.71     1.07
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
 
                                                                   -- continued
         Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
        by Type, United States, May 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :                   Turkeys                  :
                       :--------------------------------------------:   Total
                       : Fryer-   :           :         :   Total   :  Poultry
                       : Roasters :   Young   :   Old   :  Turkeys  :
                       :-------------------------------------------------------
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Ante-Mortem            :
 (Live Weight)         :
                       :
  Apr 1999             :    ---        1,314        35       1,349      15,821
  May 1998             :    ---        1,350        21       1,371      13,979
  May 1999             :    ---        1,313        24       1,338      15,174
                       :
  Jan-May 1998         :    ---        7,421       145       7,566      73,528
  Jan-May 1999         :    ---        6,806       162       6,968      81,700
                       :
Percent 2/             :
                       :
  May 1998             :    ---         0.26      0.76        0.26        0.38
  May 1999             :   0.17         0.24      0.87        0.24        0.38
                       :
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Post-Mortem            :
 (N.Y. Dressed Weight) :
                       :
  Apr 1999             :    ---       11,263       336      11,599      69,787
  May 1998             :    ---        9,395       218       9,613      61,570
  May 1999             :      2       10,507       275      10,784      64,358
                       :
  Jan-May 1998         :    ---       55,191     1,381      56,572     333,287
  Jan-May 1999         :      2       52,667     1,309      53,979     342,482
                       :
Percent 3/             :
                       :
  May 1998             :    ---         1.97      8.82        2.01        1.85
  May 1999             :   0.96         2.10     10.92        2.14        1.78
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.  Totals may not add due to rounding.
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of pounds (live weight) inspected.  Percentages
    based on unrounded data.
3/  Pounds condemned as percent of pounds N.Y. dressed weight of quantity
    inspected.  Percentages based on unrounded data.
 
 
   Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,
                 Selected States and United States, May 1998-99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                       :                           :      Average
       :        Number         :        Live Weight        :    Live Weight
 State :       Inspected       :         Inspected         :     Inspected 1/
       :-----------------------:---------------------------:-------------------
       :   1998    :   1999    :    1998     :    1999     :  1998   :  1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  ------ 1,000 ------      ---- 1,000 Pounds ----     --- Pounds ---
       :
AL     :   67,325      76,395       328,661       391,762     4.88      5.13
AR     :   92,346      96,858       447,328       474,763     4.84      4.90
DE     :   21,519      23,192       122,600       134,360     5.70      5.79
FL     :   11,224      10,603        49,723        57,151     4.43      5.39
GA     :   92,024      95,399       447,326       477,598     4.86      5.01
LA     :   12,354      12,511        57,057        56,468     4.62      4.51
MD     :   17,590      17,150        82,808        82,096     4.71      4.79
MS     :   56,754      55,160       272,437       277,586     4.80      5.03
MO     :   29,593      30,009       128,975       138,720     4.36      4.62
NC     :   50,470      52,569       276,451       306,695     5.48      5.83
PA     :    8,855       9,033        44,600        48,742     5.04      5.40
SC     :   17,951      18,345        82,242        87,617     4.58      4.78
TN     :   15,287      17,914        73,862        87,806     4.83      4.90
TX     :   40,856      45,823       185,712       215,192     4.55      4.70
VA     :   29,951      31,065       143,056       152,219     4.78      4.90
WA     :      ---         ---           ---           ---      ---       ---
       :
US     :  635,698     668,120     3,085,643     3,364,490     4.85      5.04
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Average weight based on unrounded data.
 
 
  Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
                 Selected States and United States, May 1998-99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                             :        Post-Mortem Condemnations
       :            Total            :-----------------------------------------
 State :          Certified 1/       :   N.Y. Dressed Weight   :   Percent 2/
       :-----------------------------:-----------------------------------------
       :     1998     :     1999     :    1998    :    1999    : 1998  : 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------     -- Percent --
       :
AL     :    241,110        290,696        6,831        7,575      2.31    2.15
AR     :    319,597        342,530        5,566        5,995      1.38    1.40
DE     :     87,209         97,632        2,403        2,890      2.18    2.39
FL     :     35,600         40,134          841          944      1.88    1.84
GA     :    331,928        352,750        6,901        6,799      1.71    1.58
LA     :     40,499         39,077          882        1,163      1.72    2.29
MD     :     59,073         57,689        1,109        1,339      1.49    1.81
MS     :    206,673        205,499        3,948        2,580      1.61    1.03
MO     :     93,546        101,064        1,447        1,444      1.25    1.16
NC     :    209,704        231,034        4,741        4,707      1.91    1.71
PA     :     31,084         34,689        1,354        1,331      3.37    3.04
SC     :     60,556         64,407        1,486        1,430      2.01    1.81
TN     :     53,675         63,630          846          867      1.27    1.10
TX     :    141,520        162,737        2,127        2,402      1.27    1.24
VA     :    100,435        105,336        1,759        1,549      1.37    1.13
WA     :        ---            ---          ---          ---       ---     ---
       :
US     :  2,259,623      2,459,973       47,607       48,383      1.71    1.60
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity
    inspected.  Percentages based on unrounded data.
 
 
      Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,
                  Selected States and United States, May 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AL     :       ---       4,377     221,958      397,077       1,839      12,656
AR     :       ---         ---     319,599      146,789      14,197       6,574
DE     :       ---      10,320     122,313       94,875         ---      19,603
FL     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
GA     :       ---         ---     136,066      318,484         936       9,548
LA     :       ---         ---      35,574       33,023         270       1,197
MD     :       ---      11,589     105,894       54,175          74       9,256
MS     :       ---       2,204     112,087       36,995       1,250       2,891
MO     :       ---       3,800      90,815       32,103       2,929       1,570
NC     :       ---         ---     154,420       83,244         145      48,853
PA     :       ---         ---      39,519       36,347         210         ---
SC     :       ---       1,102      36,434       65,914          59         ---
TN     :       ---         277      56,553       15,833         ---         ---
TX     :       ---         ---     127,603       64,518       1,248       2,408
VA     :       ---         ---      72,766       41,417          50         ---
WA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :       ---     148,259   1,998,640    1,493,276      40,733     152,820
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AL     :    11,239      35,629      64,820       12,604     224,428     986,627
AR     :    11,785      31,754      52,801        6,284     139,562     729,345
DE     :     2,571      15,018      17,880        7,855      70,991     361,426
FL     :       ---       3,069       7,048          ---         ---      10,117
GA     :    11,489      36,057      61,828        9,886     337,828     922,122
LA     :     1,498         ---         ---          ---      13,177      84,739
MD     :     1,487      12,032         ---        1,265      31,589     227,361
MS     :     4,840      21,231      22,477        2,215      80,446     286,636
MO     :     2,206      14,579      17,450        1,974      42,921     210,347
NC     :     7,155      41,237      42,544        6,601     131,920     516,119
PA     :     2,481       4,071         ---          ---      31,342     113,970
SC     :     3,809      17,480       9,821        7,672      37,603     179,894
TN     :     2,908       9,439         ---        1,557         ---      86,567
TX     :     1,926      13,522      16,286        2,048      13,067     242,626
VA     :     2,274       9,404       6,994        2,188      50,287     185,380
WA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :    77,707     301,224     455,629       72,437   1,400,073   6,140,798
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
  Mature Chickens Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,
                 Selected States and United States, May 1998-99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                       :                           :      Average
       :        Number         :        Live Weight        :    Live Weight
 State :       Inspected       :         Inspected         :     Inspected 1/
       :-----------------------:---------------------------:-------------------
       :   1998    :   1999    :    1998     :    1999     :  1998   :  1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  ------ 1,000 ------      ---- 1,000 Pounds ----     --- Pounds ---
       :
CA     :      ---         ---           ---           ---      ---       ---
GA     :      ---         ---           ---           ---      ---       ---
       :
US     :   14,713      15,298        76,117        77,631     5.17      5.07
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Average weight based on unrounded data.
 
 
 
 Mature Chickens Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
                 Selected States and United States, May 1998-99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                             :        Post-Mortem Condemnations
       :            Total            :-----------------------------------------
 State :          Certified 1/       :   N.Y. Dressed Weight   :   Percent 2/
       :-----------------------------:-----------------------------------------
       :     1998     :     1999     :    1998    :    1999    : 1998  : 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------     -- Percent --
       :
CA     :        ---            ---          ---          ---       ---     ---
GA     :        ---            ---          ---          ---       ---     ---
       :
US     :     46,110         46,823        4,082        4,893      5.96    7.00
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity
    inspected.  Percentages based on unrounded data.
 
 
      Mature Chickens Slaughtered:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,
                  Selected States and United States, May 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
CA     :       ---         ---         ---           20          10         ---
GA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :       ---       8,691     374,106       24,406         895     165,743
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
CA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---          30
GA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :    43,960      40,987     205,177        1,727      68,006     933,698
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
     Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average
          Live Weight, Selected States and United States, May 1998-99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                       :                           :      Average
       :        Number         :        Live Weight        :    Live Weight
 State :       Inspected       :         Inspected         :     Inspected 1/
       :-----------------------:---------------------------:-------------------
       :   1998    :   1999    :    1998     :    1999     :  1998   :  1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  ------ 1,000 ------      ---- 1,000 Pounds ----     --- Pounds ---
       :
AR     :    2,072       2,087        36,637        39,438     17.69     18.90
CA     :    1,193       1,348        27,589        33,218     23.12     24.64
IA     :    1,184       1,416        32,077        42,358     27.09     29.91
MN     :    3,319       3,575        74,731        87,707     22.52     24.53
MO     :    1,991       1,974        55,654        57,463     27.96     29.11
NC     :    3,000       2,711        80,732        67,392     26.91     24.86
PA     :      ---         ---           ---           ---       ---       ---
VA     :    2,721       3,038        56,367        66,841     20.72     22.00
       :
US     :   21,180      21,614       528,904       555,980     24.97     25.72
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Average weight based on unrounded data.
 
 
     Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem
         Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1998-99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                             :        Post-Mortem Condemnations
       :            Total            :-----------------------------------------
 State :          Certified 1/       :   N.Y. Dressed Weight   :   Percent 2/
       :-----------------------------:-----------------------------------------
       :     1998     :     1999     :    1998    :    1999    : 1998  : 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------     -- Percent --
       :
AR     :     30,151         32,081          503          574      1.53    1.62
CA     :     21,867         27,090          373          428      1.50    1.43
IA     :     24,973         32,355          710        1,010      2.46    2.65
MN     :     59,722         70,389        1,665        2,176      2.48    2.76
MO     :     43,415         44,226        1,069        1,205      2.13    2.33
NC     :     63,667         51,756        1,191        1,196      1.64    1.97
PA     :        ---            ---          ---          ---       ---     ---
VA     :     43,816         52,237          723          924      1.43    1.54
       :
US     :    419,141        437,078        9,395       10,507      1.97    2.10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.
2/  Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity
    inspected.  Percentages based on unrounded data.
 
 
  Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,
                  Selected States and United States, May 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AR     :       ---         ---       4,455          210           5         ---
CA     :       ---         ---       5,016           49         ---         ---
IA     :       ---         ---       6,295        2,480         ---         ---
MN     :       ---         ---      17,173          ---         ---           4
MO     :       ---         ---      13,350          ---         ---           4
NC     :       ---         ---       4,684          ---         ---         ---
PA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
VA     :       ---         ---       3,763          246         ---         ---
       :
US     :       ---         725      81,539       15,867       5,973      92,325
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AR     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---       4,670
CA     :       ---         ---         150          ---         630       5,845
IA     :       ---         ---         752          ---         ---       9,527
MN     :       ---         849         988          ---       1,601      20,615
MO     :        67         366         ---          ---       1,598      15,385
NC     :       108         ---       1,703          ---         997       7,492
PA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
VA     :       ---       1,305         212          ---       1,270       6,796
       :
US     :       950       8,291       7,937        3,276      11,839     228,722
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
  Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,
                            United States, May 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
US     :       ---         ---       3,424          481         ---          33
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
US     :        21          80         219           19         816       5,093
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
                    Poultry Slaughter Estimates
 
Data Sources:  Primary data for commercial poultry slaughter estimates are
             obtained from the Poultry Inspection Form (FSIS 6000-21) completed
by inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA.  This form
provides actual counts of birds slaughtered in Federally Inspected (FI) plants.
Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for any species is under FI.  The
FSIS 6000-21 forms collect number of head slaughtered daily under FI by species
and class as well as condemnations and total live and dressed weights.
Approximately 350 plants in the U.S. are operated under Federal Inspection.
Annual totals of poultry slaughtered under State-administered Non-Federal
Inspection (NFI) are published in the April release.
 
 
Revision Policy:  Revisions are generally the result of late reports received
                by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half of
1 percent of the preliminary totals.  Revisions for the previous month and
year-to-date totals are published in each monthly release.  Final data are
published in the annual summary released in April and reflect any late reports
or corrections which occurred after the monthly revision were published.
 
Procedures and Reliability:  Plant inspectors submit forms (FSIS 6000-21)
                           weekly summarizing the plant's activity.  When
inconsistencies in the data are detected, the reports are returned to the
inspectors for correction.  Inspectors correct or validate the report and
resubmit it.  The reports cover weekly activities through Saturday night and
reported data are allocated to the appropriate month as it enters the database.
 
A NASS computer program provides a review of current data with historical data
for each plant.  An edit provides checks for the detection of errors such as
invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data.  The program also
generates a missing reports listing for a telephone follow-up.  Data are
summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this release.
 
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 accounted for each week.  Estimates for missing weeks are made only after
verifying that the plant was in operation.  Adjustments are based on either the
previous week's information or a week determined to be similar to the one
missing.  Late reports replace imputed data as they become available.  While
there will continue to be a varying degree of incompleteness from month to
month, it is expected to have only a minimal impact on the final 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.
 
Generally, no State data are published if less than three plants operate for a
species in a State, or if one plant has 60 percent or more of the total head for
that species.  These data are included in the U.S. totals.
 
 
    Definitions Used To Report Federally Inspected Slaughter
 
 
 
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.
 
 
Fryer-Roaster Turkeys - Young immature birds, usually under 16 weeks of age.
 
 
Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks.
 
 
New York Dressed Weight - Carcass weight after only feathers and blood
                          are removed.  This weight is approximately
                          90% of live weight.
 
 
Old Turkeys (Breeders) - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually
                         over 15 months of age.
 
 
Other Poultry - Includes all other ready-to-cook products which bear the
                U.S.D.A. Inspected for Wholesomeness legend.
 
 
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 (Mature) - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about
                         5 months.
 
 
                               Index
 
 
                                                                          Page
 
Definitions..............................................................   16
 
Mature Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,
 U.S., May 1998-1999.....................................................   11
 
Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause,
 Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999.................................   11
 
Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
 U.S., May 1998-1999.....................................................   11
 
Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause,
 U.S., May 1998-1999.....................................................   14
 
Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type,
 U.S., May 1998..........................................................    4
 
Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
 by Type, U.S., May 1998.................................................    6
 
Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average
 Live Weight by Type, U.S., May 1998.....................................    2
 
Reliability Statement....................................................   15
 
Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,
 Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999.................................    8
 
Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause,
 Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999.................................   10
 
Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
 Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999.................................    9
 
Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average
 Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999....................   12
 
Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause,
 Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999.................................   13
 
Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
 Selected States and U.S., May 1998-1999.................................   12
 
 
 
 
 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on
August 5, 1999.
 
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital
or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative
means for communication of program information (braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600
(voice and TDD).
 
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA,
Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127
(TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.
 
 
 
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For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at:
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1) Starting with the NASS Home Page at http://www.usda.gov/nass/, click
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