Poultry
Slaughter
National
Agricultural
Statistics
Service
 
USDA
Washington, D.C.
 
 Released April 5, 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 2 Percent
 
Poultry Certified Wholesome during February (ready-to-cook weight),
totaled 2.66 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the amount certified in
February 1998. Updated totals for January 1999 show that 2.89 billion
pounds were certified.
 
The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during February
1999 was 3.61 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.07 billion pounds
of young chickens, 69.2 million pounds of mature chickens, 455 million
pounds of turkeys, and 12.3 million pounds of ducks.
 
Young chickens slaughtered during February 1999 averaged 4.99 pounds per
bird, up 4 percent from 1998. The average live weight of mature chickens
was 5.16 pounds per bird up 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys
slaughtered during February 1998 averaged 25.7 pounds per bird, up 2
percent from February 1998.
 
Ante-mortem condemnations during February 1999 totaled 14.7 million
pounds. Condemnations were 0.41 percent of the live weight inspected,
compared with 0.38 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at
62.3 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.92 percent of
quantities inspected, compared with 2.05 percent a year earlier.
 
February 1999 contained 20 weekdays (including one holiday) and four
Saturdays, the same as February 1998.
 
 
               1998 Poultry Slaughter up 1 Percent
 
Poultry Certified Wholesome under Federal Inspection during 1998
(ready-to-cook weight) totaled 33.8 billion pounds, up 1 percent from
the total amount certified during 1997. Young chickens, at 27.9 billion
pounds, accounted for 82 percent of the total pounds certified
ready-to-cook and were up 2 percent from 1997. The average live weight
for young chickens increased 1 percent to 4.86 pounds. Total turkeys, at
5.28 billion pounds, represented 16 percent of the overall total and
were down 4 percent from 1997. The average live weight for total turkeys
increased 3 percent to 24.6 pounds per bird. The remaining 2 percent of
pounds certified ready-to-cook were mature chickens, ducks, and other
poultry.
 
 
        Poultry Slaughter:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight
           by Type, United States, February 1999 with Comparisons 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                                       :         :
                    :               Chickens                :         :  Other
                    :---------------------------------------:  Ducks  : Poultry
                    :    Young    : Mature 2/ :    Total    :         :
                    :----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        1,000 Head
Number Inspected    :
                    :
  Jan 1999          :     663,524      15,218       678,742     1,927   -----
  Feb 1998          :     607,389      12,692       620,081     1,718   -----
  Feb 1999          :     615,670      13,412       629,082     1,841   -----
                    :
  Jan-Feb 1998      :   1,276,280      27,462     1,303,741     3,744   -----
  Jan-Feb 1999      :   1,279,194      28,630     1,307,824     3,768   -----
                    :
                    :                       1,000 Pounds
Live Weight         :
                    :
  Jan 1999          :   3,318,603      75,365     3,393,967    12,969      784
  Feb 1998          :   2,929,823      64,655     2,994,478    11,466      965
  Feb 1999          :   3,073,441      69,155     3,142,597    12,292      575
                    :
  Jan-Feb 1998      :   6,163,528     138,861     6,302,390    25,027    2,122
  Jan-Feb 1999      :   6,392,044     144,520     6,536,564    25,261    1,359
                    :
                    :                          Pounds
Average Live Weight :
                    :
  Jan 1999          :        5.00        4.95          5.00      6.73   -----
  Feb 1998          :        4.82        5.09          4.83      6.67   -----
  Feb 1999          :        4.99        5.16          5.00      6.68   -----
                    :
  Jan-Feb 1998      :        4.83        5.06          4.83      6.68   -----
  Jan-Feb 1999      :        5.00        5.05          5.00      6.70   -----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
        Poultry Slaughter:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight
     by Type, United States, February 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                   Turkeys                  :
                    :--------------------------------------------:    Total
                    : Fryer-   :           :         :   Total   :   Poultry
                    : Roasters : Young  3/ :   Old   :  Turkeys  :
                    :----------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        1,000 Head
Number Inspected    :
                    :
  Jan 1999          :     ---       19,775        97      19,873      -----
  Feb 1998          :     ---       20,668       166      20,834      -----
  Feb 1999          :     ---       17,605       140      17,745      -----
                    :
  Jan-Feb 1998      :     ---       42,276       324      42,600      -----
  Jan-Feb 1999      :     ---       37,380       238      37,618      -----
                    :
                    :                       1,000 Pounds
Live Weight         :
                    :
  Jan 1999          :     ---      518,976     2,641     521,617     3,929,337
  Feb 1998          :     ---      518,165     4,340     522,505     3,529,414
  Feb 1999          :     ---      451,725     3,759     455,484     3,610,948
                    :
  Jan-Feb 1998      :     ---    1,065,950     8,607   1,074,557     7,404,096
  Jan-Feb 1999      :     ---      970,701     6,400     977,101     7,540,285
                    :
                    :                          Pounds
Average Live Weight :
                    :
  Jan 1999          :     ---        26.24     27.10       26.25      -----
  Feb 1998          :     ---        25.07     26.12       25.08      -----
  Feb 1999          :     ---        25.66     26.82       25.67      -----
                    :
  Jan-Feb 1998      :     ---        25.21     26.56       25.22      -----
  Jan-Feb 1999      :     ---        25.97     26.94       25.97      -----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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:  February 1998:  4,988,
    February 1999:  5,024.
3/  Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as
    young breeders was:  February 1998:  72, February 1999:  49.
 
       Poultry Slaughter:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
                United States, February 1999 with Comparisons 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                                             :         :
              :                   Chickens                  :         :  Other
              :---------------------------------------------:  Ducks  : Poultry
              :     Young     :    Mature    :    Total     :         :
              :----------------------------------------------------------------
              :                          1,000 Pounds
Jan 1999      :
  Chilled     :    2,218,167        42,404       2,260,571      3,365      324
  Frozen      :      208,728         3,086         211,814      5,750      122
              :
  Total       :    2,426,895        45,490       2,472,385      9,116      445
              :
Feb 1998      :
  Chilled     :    1,945,503        36,386       1,981,889      2,761      344
  Frozen      :      199,373         2,589         201,962      5,319      203
              :
  Total       :    2,144,875        38,975       2,183,851      8,081      548
              :
Feb 1999      :
  Chilled     :    2,058,564        37,724       2,096,288      3,611      220
  Frozen      :      192,382         3,777         196,159      4,904       98
              :
  Total       :    2,250,946        41,500       2,292,446      8,514      318
              :
              :
Jan-Feb 1998  :
  Chilled     :    4,102,527        76,519       4,179,046      6,183      784
  Frozen      :      410,889         6,720         417,609     11,551      448
              :
  Total       :    4,513,416        83,239       4,596,655     17,734    1,232
              :
Jan-Feb 1999  :
  Chilled     :    4,276,731        80,128       4,356,859      6,976      544
  Frozen      :      401,110         6,863         407,973     10,654      220
              :
  Total       :    4,677,841        86,990       4,764,831     17,630      763
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
       Poultry Slaughter:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
          United States, February 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                     Turkeys                    :
              :------------------------------------------------:     Total
              :  Fryer-    :           :           :   Total   :    Poultry
              :  Roasters  :   Young   :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
              :----------------------------------------------------------------
              :                          1,000 Pounds
Jan 1999      :
  Chilled     :      ---       199,430      1,466      200,896      2,465,156
  Frozen      :      ---       209,495        482      209,978        427,664
              :
  Total       :      ---       408,925      1,949      410,874      2,892,820
              :
Feb 1998      :
  Chilled     :      ---       195,371      2,167      197,538      2,182,533
  Frozen      :      ---       212,332      1,009      213,341        420,826
              :
  Total       :      ---       407,703      3,176      410,879      2,603,358
              :
Feb 1999      :
  Chilled     :      ---       164,395      2,002      166,398      2,266,516
  Frozen      :      ---       192,749        803      193,552        394,712
              :
  Total       :      ---       357,144      2,806      359,950      2,661,228
              :
              :
Jan-Feb 1998  :
  Chilled     :      ---       403,765      4,038      407,803      4,593,816
  Frozen      :      ---       434,481      2,328      436,809        866,417
              :
  Total       :      ---       838,246      6,366      844,612      5,460,234
              :
Jan-Feb 1999  :
  Chilled     :      ---       363,825      3,469      367,294      4,731,672
  Frozen      :      ---       402,244      1,285      403,530        822,376
              :
  Total       :      ---       766,069      4,754      770,824      5,554,048
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.  Totals may not add due to rounding.
         Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
           by Type, United States, February 1999 with Comparisons 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :                                    :         :
                       :              Chickens              :         :  Other
                       :------------------------------------:  Ducks  : Poultry
                       :   Young   :   Mature   :   Total   :         :
                       :-------------------------------------------------------
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Ante-Mortem            :
 (Live Weight)         :
                       :
  Jan 1999             :   16,219       1,216       17,436        18        4
  Feb 1998             :   11,039       1,011       12,050        10        1
  Feb 1999             :   12,639         849       13,488        13        4
                       :
  Jan-Feb 1998         :   24,675       2,235       26,909        24        4
  Jan-Feb 1999         :   28,858       2,066       30,924        32        8
                       :
Percent 2/             :
                       :
  Feb 1998             :     0.38        1.56         0.40      0.09     0.15
  Feb 1999             :     0.41        1.23         0.43      0.11     0.73
                       :
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Post-Mortem            :
 (N.Y. Dressed Weight) :
                       :
  Jan 1999             :   55,098       4,649       59,747       291        5
  Feb 1998             :   49,126       4,001       53,127       234        9
  Feb 1999             :   48,203       4,301       52,504       294        4
                       :
  Jan-Feb 1998         :   99,554       8,239      107,793       518       18
  Jan-Feb 1999         :  103,300       8,950      112,251       584        9
                       :
Percent 3/             :
                       :
  Feb 1998             :     1.86        6.88         1.97      2.27     1.02
  Feb 1999             :     1.74        6.91         1.86      2.65     0.85
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
         Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
     by Type, United States, February 1999 with Comparisons 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :                   Turkeys                  :
                       :--------------------------------------------:   Total
                       : Fryer-   :           :         :   Total   :  Poultry
                       : Roasters :   Young   :   Old   :  Turkeys  :
                       :-------------------------------------------------------
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Ante-Mortem            :
 (Live Weight)         :
                       :
  Jan 1999             :    ---        1,743        30       1,773      19,230
  Feb 1998             :    ---        1,373        38       1,411      13,472
  Feb 1999             :    ---        1,123        35       1,157      14,663
                       :
  Jan-Feb 1998         :    ---        2,962        68       3,031      29,968
  Jan-Feb 1999         :    ---        2,866        64       2,930      33,893
                       :
Percent 2/             :
                       :
  Feb 1998             :    ---         0.26      0.88        0.27        0.38
  Feb 1999             :    ---         0.25      0.92        0.25        0.41
                       :
                       :                      1,000 Pounds
Post-Mortem            :
 (N.Y. Dressed Weight) :
                       :
  Jan 1999             :    ---       10,582       236      10,818      70,861
  Feb 1998             :    ---       11,321       337      11,658      65,028
  Feb 1999             :    ---        9,269       227       9,495      62,297
                       :
  Jan-Feb 1998         :    ---       22,710       658      23,367     131,697
  Jan-Feb 1999         :    ---       19,851       463      20,313     133,157
                       :
Percent 3/             :
                       :
  Feb 1998             :    ---         2.43      8.63        2.48        2.05
  Feb 1999             :    ---         2.28      6.70        2.32        1.92
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, February 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     :   68,297      71,201       330,909       362,627     4.85      5.09
AR     :   92,032      90,822       439,839       439,982     4.78      4.84
CA     :   17,973      19,162        94,749        98,265     5.27      5.13
DE     :   20,173      20,116       113,529       115,333     5.63      5.73
FL     :    9,539       9,587        43,888        51,444     4.60      5.37
GA     :   87,814      89,387       428,241       442,860     4.88      4.95
LA     :   11,322      12,708        52,843        56,702     4.67      4.46
MD     :   15,662      15,563        74,238        73,711     4.74      4.74
MS     :   54,179      52,047       259,242       259,554     4.78      4.99
MO     :   27,080      27,499       119,764       125,672     4.42      4.57
NC     :   48,834      49,506       266,864       284,639     5.46      5.75
PA     :    8,824       8,038        44,854        41,300     5.08      5.14
SC     :   16,315      17,128        76,944        83,624     4.72      4.88
TN     :   12,527      15,252        55,593        75,862     4.44      4.97
TX     :   38,004      40,697       172,993       192,496     4.55      4.73
VA     :   27,209      27,145       129,526       132,165     4.76      4.87
WA     :      ---         ---           ---           ---      ---       ---
       :
US     :  607,389     615,670     2,929,823     3,073,441     4.82      4.99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Average weight based on unrounded data.
 
  Young Chickens Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
              Selected States and United States, February 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     :    244,900        273,469        8,411        7,626      2.82    2.34
AR     :    314,323        320,942        5,695        5,755      1.44    1.45
CA     :     69,387         70,941        1,697        1,178      1.99    1.33
DE     :     80,617         82,875        2,509        2,550      2.46    2.46
FL     :     29,692         35,959          739        1,038      1.87    2.24
GA     :    319,707        326,701        6,546        7,460      1.70    1.87
LA     :     37,626         40,543        1,096        1,310      2.30    2.57
MD     :     53,171         51,944        1,206        1,125      1.80    1.70
MS     :    195,024        188,001        4,233        3,208      1.81    1.37
MO     :     87,911         93,045        1,442        1,590      1.34    1.41
NC     :    195,481        213,158        4,669        5,037      1.94    1.97
PA     :     31,037         29,108        1,271        1,056      3.15    2.84
SC     :     56,260         61,365        1,577        1,462      2.28    1.94
TN     :     40,506         55,271          583          849      1.17    1.24
TX     :    136,205        144,429        2,433        2,086      1.56    1.20
VA     :     90,265         92,671        1,573        1,571      1.35    1.32
WA     :        ---            ---          ---          ---       ---     ---
       :
US     :  2,144,875      2,250,946       49,126       48,203      1.86    1.74
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, February 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AL     :       ---       1,573     198,763      315,613       1,435      18,648
AR     :       ---       3,918     308,297      143,397       5,449       6,690
CA     :       ---       7,415      90,915        5,822         ---       4,392
DE     :       ---       7,466     105,803       94,187         193         ---
FL     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
GA     :       ---       5,503     147,175      424,370         ---      11,522
LA     :       ---         ---      39,234       46,603         ---       2,243
MD     :       ---       5,628      90,833       57,222         179      10,469
MS     :       ---       3,556     130,883      104,139       1,713       4,688
MO     :       ---       4,990      93,695       42,461       2,684       1,853
NC     :       ---         ---     147,978      119,378         327      50,207
PA     :       ---         ---      38,108       27,832         145         ---
SC     :       ---       1,210      34,866       71,654          72       5,579
TN     :       ---         271      53,894       17,474         ---         ---
TX     :       ---         ---     121,962       53,732         630       2,633
VA     :       ---         ---      72,842       64,566         ---         ---
WA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :       ---      74,538   1,898,509    1,655,802      37,127     172,260
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AL     :    10,337      38,546      53,289       11,078     268,014     917,296
AR     :    10,131      34,927      45,569        3,827     117,817     680,022
CA     :       739       5,474       2,450          981      15,956     134,144
DE     :     2,553      11,713      14,362        2,439      55,904     294,620
FL     :     1,475       3,197       7,271          ---         ---      11,943
GA     :    12,443      46,386      67,475       11,403     331,224   1,057,501
LA     :     1,547       6,405         ---          ---      28,998     125,030
MD     :     1,895       8,936         ---        1,641      25,561     202,364
MS     :     4,752      26,296      28,648        1,162     151,019     456,856
MO     :     2,410      12,427      14,944        1,113      37,076     213,653
NC     :     8,339      46,930      45,701        4,578     148,698     572,136
PA     :     2,305       2,539         ---          ---      35,206     106,135
SC     :     4,096      14,715      11,269        6,531      42,376     192,368
TN     :     2,664       8,808         ---          ---      18,608     101,719
TX     :     1,564      10,753      13,069        1,118      11,316     216,777
VA     :     2,019       8,595       7,809        2,753      68,735     227,319
WA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :    75,221     311,254     437,206       59,185   1,493,412   6,214,514
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  Mature Chickens Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight,
              Selected States and United States, February 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     :   12,692      13,412        64,655        69,155     5.09      5.16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Average weight based on unrounded data.
 
 
 
 
 Mature Chickens Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations,
              Selected States and United States, February 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     :     38,975         41,500        4,001        4,301      6.88    6.91
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, February 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
CA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
GA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :       ---       9,539     363,352       18,081         697     134,206
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
CA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
GA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
       :
US     :    35,330      37,425     205,846        2,422      52,066     858,964
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered:  Number, Live Weight, and Average
        Live Weight, Selected States and United States, February 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     :    2,127       1,905        37,944        33,954     17.84     17.82
CA     :    1,306         976        31,043        23,712     23.76     24.28
IA     :    1,164       1,024        31,731        32,475     27.26     31.70
MN     :    2,916       2,509        67,716        62,672     23.22     24.97
MO     :    2,063       1,728        55,115        50,635     26.72     29.30
NC     :    3,226       2,013        83,509        49,402     25.88     24.55
PA     :      ---         ---           ---           ---       ---       ---
VA     :    2,430       3,001        48,245        66,514     19.85     22.17
       :
US     :   20,668      17,605       518,165       451,725     25.07     25.66
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Average weight based on unrounded data.
 
 
 
 
 
     Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered:  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem
       Condemnations, Selected States and United States, February 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     :     31,383         27,859          612          498      1.79    1.63
CA     :     25,079         19,163          425          330      1.52    1.55
IA     :     24,557         24,585          809          896      2.83    3.07
MN     :     52,931         49,680        2,277        1,549      3.74    2.75
MO     :     43,243         39,881        1,305        1,168      2.63    2.56
NC     :     66,255         39,204        1,522          912      2.03    2.05
PA     :        ---            ---          ---          ---       ---     ---
VA     :     36,292         52,442          758          964      1.75    1.61
       :
US     :    407,703        357,144       11,321        9,269      2.43    2.28
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, February 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AR     :       ---         ---       4,446          418         ---         ---
CA     :       ---         ---       5,183           18         ---         ---
IA     :       ---         ---       4,231        4,535         ---         ---
MN     :       ---         ---      13,046        2,859         ---         ---
MO     :       ---         ---      18,889        2,869         ---         ---
NC     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---         ---
PA     :       ---         ---       3,580          ---         ---         ---
VA     :       ---         ---       4,572          309         ---         ---
       :
US     :       ---          73      78,130       17,835       3,828          98
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
AR     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---       4,864
CA     :        11         ---         268          ---         ---       5,480
IA     :        45         ---         ---          ---         ---       8,811
MN     :       154         448         839          ---         952      18,298
MO     :       ---         ---         ---          ---       1,259      23,017
NC     :       ---       1,105       1,343          ---         461       2,909
PA     :       ---         ---         ---          ---         ---       3,580
VA     :        43       1,588         177          ---       1,269       7,958
       :
US     :       912       7,667       6,990        1,936       9,666     127,135
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 
  Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered:  Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause,
                          United States, February 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :  Tuber-   :           :            :  Airsac-  :           :
 State :  culosis  : Leukosis  : Septicemia :  culitis  : Synovitis :  Tumors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
US     :    ---         ---        3,540          404         ---         53
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :           :           :  Contam-   :           :           :
       :  Bruises  :  Cadaver  :  ination   : Overscald :   Other   :   Total
       :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                                 Number
       :
US     :     10         124          102          ---         570      4,803
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
              Poultry Slaughter:  Number and Live Weight by Type,
                   Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 Chickens                 :           :
   Month    :------------------------------------------:   Ducks   :   Other
            :    Young    :    Mature    :    Total    :           :  Poultry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                            1,000 Head
Number      :
            :
  Jan       :     668,891        14,769        683,661      2,026      -----
  Feb       :     607,389        12,692        620,081      1,718      -----
  Mar       :     653,139        13,014        666,154      1,887      -----
  Apr       :     660,982        16,448        677,430      1,895      -----
  May       :     635,698        14,713        650,411      1,867      -----
  Jun       :     668,284        14,967        683,251      2,034      -----
  Jul       :     686,198        14,950        701,148      2,009      -----
  Aug       :     651,038        14,169        665,207      1,962      -----
  Sep       :     656,130        13,501        669,631      2,051      -----
  Oct       :     687,719        13,834        701,553      2,055      -----
  Nov       :     601,105        11,135        612,240      1,931      -----
  Dec       :     661,113        15,102        676,215      2,042      -----
            :
  Total 2/  :   7,837,684       169,297      8,006,980     23,477      -----
            :
            :
            :                           1,000 Pounds
Live Weight :
            :
  Jan       :   3,233,705        74,207      3,307,912     13,560      1,157
  Feb       :   2,929,823        64,655      2,994,478     11,466        965
  Mar       :   3,197,296        66,330      3,263,626     12,575      1,070
  Apr       :   3,258,011        80,287      3,338,298     12,657      1,088
  May       :   3,085,643        76,117      3,161,759     12,218        997
  Jun       :   3,190,130        77,319      3,267,449     13,338      1,071
  Jul       :   3,211,453        76,438      3,287,891     12,978      1,074
  Aug       :   3,093,523        72,941      3,166,464     12,547      1,486
  Sep       :   3,176,068        70,349      3,246,417     13,557      1,955
  Oct       :   3,386,585        70,739      3,457,323     13,529      1,929
  Nov       :   3,001,420        60,237      3,061,657     12,676        956
  Dec       :   3,291,191        75,764      3,366,955     13,694        835
            :
  Total 2/  :  38,054,849       865,381     38,920,229    154,796     14,582
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
 
              Poultry Slaughter:  Number and Live Weight by Type,
             Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                     Turkeys                    :
            :------------------------------------------------:      Total
   Month    :  Fryer-    :           :           :   Total   :     Poultry
            :  Roasters  :   Young   :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                            1,000 Head
Number      :
            :
  Jan       :      ---        21,608        158        21,766       -----
  Feb       :      ---        20,668        166        20,834       -----
  Mar       :      ---        22,320        136        22,456       -----
  Apr       :      ---        22,144        147        22,291       -----
  May       :      ---        21,180        108        21,288       -----
  Jun       :      ---        23,186        193        23,379       -----
  Jul       :      ---        24,174        168        24,342       -----
  Aug       :       40        22,162        158        22,360       -----
  Sep       :      ---        22,833        213        23,047       -----
  Oct       :        1        24,614        194        24,809       -----
  Nov       :        2        24,279        101        24,383       -----
  Dec       :       33        21,886        139        22,058       -----
            :
  Total 2/  :       76       271,055      1,882       273,013       -----
            :
            :
            :                           1,000 Pounds
Live Weight :
            :
  Jan       :      ---       547,785      4,267       552,052      3,874,681
  Feb       :      ---       518,165      4,340       522,505      3,529,414
  Mar       :      ---       559,013      4,009       563,022      3,840,293
  Apr       :      ---       562,575      3,865       566,440      3,918,482
  May       :      ---       528,904      2,750       531,654      3,706,629
  Jun       :      ---       575,209      4,890       580,099      3,861,958
  Jul       :      ---       579,867      4,251       584,119      3,886,062
  Aug       :      356       534,616      4,040       539,012      3,719,509
  Sep       :      ---       543,748      5,342       549,089      3,811,018
  Oct       :        5       594,694      5,043       599,742      4,072,523
  Nov       :       18       587,112      2,756       589,887      3,665,176
  Dec       :      280       543,173      3,583       547,036      3,928,520
            :
  Total 2/  :      660     6,674,862     49,135     6,724,657     45,814,264
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.
2/  Months may not add to total due to rounding of monthly data.
 
                Poultry Slaughter:  Average Live Weight by Type,
                    Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 Chickens                 :           :
   Month    :------------------------------------------:   Ducks   :   Other
            :    Young    :    Mature    :    Total    :           :  Poultry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                         Pounds 2/
Average     :
Live Weight :
            :
  Jan       :     4.83          5.02           4.84         6.69       -----
  Feb       :     4.82          5.09           4.83         6.67       -----
  Mar       :     4.90          5.10           4.90         6.66       -----
  Apr       :     4.93          4.88           4.93         6.68       -----
  May       :     4.85          5.17           4.86         6.54       -----
  Jun       :     4.77          5.17           4.78         6.56       -----
  Jul       :     4.68          5.11           4.69         6.46       -----
  Aug       :     4.75          5.15           4.76         6.40       -----
  Sep       :     4.84          5.21           4.85         6.61       -----
  Oct       :     4.92          5.11           4.93         6.58       -----
  Nov       :     4.99          5.41           5.00         6.57       -----
  Dec       :     4.98          5.02           4.98         6.70       -----
            :
  Total     :     4.86          5.11           4.86         6.59       -----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
 
                Poultry Slaughter:  Average Live Weight by Type,
              Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                     Turkeys                    :
            :------------------------------------------------:      Total
   Month    :  Fryer-    :           :           :   Total   :     Poultry
            :  Roasters  :   Young   :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                           Pounds 2/
Average     :
Live Weight :
            :
  Jan       :     ---        25.35       27.02       25.36          -----
  Feb       :     ---        25.07       26.12       25.08          -----
  Mar       :     ---        25.05       29.40       25.07          -----
  Apr       :     ---        25.41       26.34       25.41          -----
  May       :     ---        24.97       25.45       24.97          -----
  Jun       :     ---        24.81       25.33       24.81          -----
  Jul       :     ---        23.99       25.24       24.00          -----
  Aug       :    8.96        24.12       25.53       24.11          -----
  Sep       :     ---        23.81       25.05       23.83          -----
  Oct       :   10.25        24.16       25.98       24.17          -----
  Nov       :    7.41        24.18       27.28       24.19          -----
  Dec       :    8.43        24.82       25.83       24.80          -----
            :
  Total     :    8.69        24.63       26.11       24.63          -----
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.
2/  Averages calculated from unrounded data.
 
            Poultry:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
                   Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 Chickens                 :           :
   Month    :------------------------------------------:   Ducks   :   Other
            :    Young    :    Mature    :    Total    :           :  Poultry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                           1,000 Pounds
Chilled     :
            :
  Jan       :   2,157,025      40,133        2,197,157      3,422        440
  Feb       :   1,945,503      36,386        1,981,889      2,761        344
  Mar       :   2,115,387      37,317        2,152,703      3,051        370
  Apr       :   2,166,543      43,994        2,210,537      3,168        394
  May       :   2,068,562      42,067        2,110,629      3,026        371
  Jun       :   2,144,471      42,857        2,187,328      3,383        409
  Jul       :   2,154,622      41,666        2,196,288      3,012        379
  Aug       :   2,059,652      39,947        2,099,599      2,962        452
  Sep       :   2,108,020      39,213        2,147,233      3,341        476
  Oct       :   2,269,656      39,906        2,309,562      3,410        503
  Nov       :   1,987,459      35,276        2,022,735      3,634        305
  Dec       :   2,181,597      42,358        2,223,955      4,249        326
            :
  Total 2/  :  25,358,496     481,120       25,839,616     39,419      4,771
            :
Frozen      :
            :
  Jan       :     211,516       4,131          215,647      6,232        244
  Feb       :     199,373       2,589          201,962      5,319        203
  Mar       :     217,191       2,894          220,085      5,870        211
  Apr       :     216,633       4,099          220,732      5,941        203
  May       :     191,061       4,043          195,105      5,652        142
  Jun       :     202,878       4,143          207,021      6,321        190
  Jul       :     199,466       3,989          203,456      6,315        243
  Aug       :     206,038       3,357          209,395      5,986        401
  Sep       :     214,054       2,942          216,996      6,083        660
  Oct       :     227,269       5,018          232,288      6,280        656
  Nov       :     204,987       1,614          206,600      5,248        270
  Dec       :     213,717       3,652          217,369      5,409        172
            :
  Total 2/  :   2,504,184      42,472        2,546,655     70,656      3,596
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
            Poultry:  Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
             Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                     Turkeys                    :
            :------------------------------------------------:      Total
   Month    :  Fryer-    :           :           :   Total   :     Poultry
            :  Roasters  :   Young   :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                         1,000 Pounds
Chilled     :
            :
  Jan       :      ---       208,394      1,871       210,265      2,411,284
  Feb       :      ---       195,371      2,167       197,538      2,182,533
  Mar       :      ---       214,576      2,357       216,933      2,373,059
  Apr       :      ---       214,439      1,973       216,413      2,430,511
  May       :      ---       195,582      1,238       196,820      2,310,846
  Jun       :      ---       208,410      2,930       211,340      2,402,460
  Jul       :      ---       205,084      2,596       207,680      2,407,360
  Aug       :       30       189,222      2,239       191,491      2,294,505
  Sep       :      ---       192,616      2,712       195,328      2,346,378
  Oct       :        4       213,616      2,392       216,012      2,529,488
  Nov       :       14       249,193      1,558       250,765      2,277,438
  Dec       :      209       215,620      1,677       217,506      2,446,036
            :
  Total 2/  :      257     2,502,124     25,710     2,528,091     28,411,897
            :
Frozen      :
            :
  Jan       :      ---       222,149      1,319       223,468        445,591
  Feb       :      ---       212,332      1,009       213,341        420,826
  Mar       :      ---       223,193        801       223,994        450,160
  Apr       :      ---       229,544        938       230,482        457,359
  May       :      ---       223,558        780       224,338        425,237
  Jun       :      ---       245,806        784       246,590        460,123
  Jul       :      ---       250,950        687       251,636        461,649
  Aug       :      215       220,657        821       221,693        437,475
  Sep       :      ---       232,727      1,463       234,190        457,930
  Oct       :      ---       256,839      1,493       258,332        497,555
  Nov       :      ---       210,306        554       210,860        422,978
  Dec       :      ---       212,534      1,043       213,577        436,526
            :
  Total 2/  :      215     2,740,597     11,691     2,752,502      5,373,409
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.
2/  Months may not add to total due to rounding of monthly data.
 
            Poultry:  Chilled Plus Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
                    Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                 Chickens                 :           :
   Month    :------------------------------------------:   Ducks   :   Other
            :    Young    :    Mature    :    Total    :           :  Poultry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                           1,000 Pounds
Chilled     :
plus Frozen :
            :
  Jan       :   2,368,541      44,264        2,412,804      9,654        684
  Feb       :   2,144,875      38,975        2,183,851      8,081        548
  Mar       :   2,332,577      40,211        2,372,789      8,921        582
  Apr       :   2,383,176      48,093        2,431,269      9,109        597
  May       :   2,259,623      46,110        2,305,734      8,678        513
  Jun       :   2,347,349      47,000        2,394,349      9,704        600
  Jul       :   2,354,089      45,655        2,399,744      9,327        622
  Aug       :   2,265,690      43,304        2,308,994      8,948        854
  Sep       :   2,322,074      42,155        2,364,229      9,425      1,136
  Oct       :   2,496,925      44,924        2,541,850      9,690      1,159
  Nov       :   2,192,446      36,890        2,229,335      8,881        574
  Dec       :   2,395,314      46,010        2,441,324      9,657        498
            :
  Total 2/  :  27,862,680     523,592       28,386,272    110,075      8,367
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
 
            Poultry:  Chilled Plus Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type,
              Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                     Turkeys                    :
            :------------------------------------------------:      Total
   Month    :  Fryer-    :           :           :   Total   :     Poultry
            :  Roasters  :   Young   :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            :                        1,000 Pounds
Chilled     :
plus Frozen :
            :
  Jan       :      ---       430,543     3,190       433,733      2,856,875
  Feb       :      ---       407,703     3,176       410,879      2,603,358
  Mar       :      ---       437,769     3,158       440,927      2,823,219
  Apr       :      ---       443,984     2,911       446,895      2,887,870
  May       :      ---       419,141     2,018       421,158      2,736,083
  Jun       :      ---       454,216     3,713       457,930      2,862,583
  Jul       :      ---       456,034     3,283       459,316      2,869,009
  Aug       :      245       409,879     3,061       413,184      2,731,980
  Sep       :      ---       425,344     4,174       429,518      2,804,308
  Oct       :        4       470,456     3,885       474,344      3,027,043
  Nov       :       14       459,499     2,112       461,625      2,700,416
  Dec       :      209       428,154     2,720       431,083      2,882,562
            :
  Total 2/  :      472     5,242,720    37,400     5,280,593     33,785,306
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Ready-to-cook weights.
2/  Months may not add to total due to rounding of monthly data.
 
          Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
                by Type, Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                Chickens                :           :
     Month     :----------------------------------------:   Ducks   :   Other
               :    Young    :   Mature   :    Total    :           :  Poultry
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                           1,000 Pounds
Ante-Mortem    :
 (Live Weight) :
               :
  Jan          :    13,636        1,223        14,859          14          3
  Feb          :    11,039        1,011        12,050          10          1
  Mar          :    13,392          774        14,165          11          1
  Apr          :    11,117        1,108        12,224          11          4
  May          :    11,099        1,485        12,584          13         11
  Jun          :    15,793        1,882        17,675          17          7
  Jul          :    18,553        2,028        20,582          19          3
  Aug          :    16,351        2,113        18,464          19          6
  Sep          :    15,155        1,243        16,398          20          6
  Oct          :    11,994          754        12,748          18          7
  Nov          :    11,233          690        11,924          15          2
  Dec          :    18,292        1,143        19,435          23          4
               :
  Total 2/     :   167,654       15,455       183,109         188         56
               :
Post-Mortem    :
 (N.Y. Dressed :
  Weight)      :
               :
  Jan          :    50,428        4,238        54,666         284          9
  Feb          :    49,126        4,001        53,127         234          9
  Mar          :    53,817        4,389        58,206         266          9
  Apr          :    53,153        4,534        57,687         249         12
  May          :    47,607        4,082        51,688         260          8
  Jun          :    47,367        4,102        51,469         295         13
  Jul          :    50,838        4,469        55,306         245         12
  Aug          :    50,056        4,312        54,368         268         18
  Sep          :    48,669        4,242        52,911         285         15
  Oct          :    50,550        4,277        54,827         292         29
  Nov          :    48,462        3,595        52,057         300         13
  Dec          :    50,589        4,563        55,153         311          8
               :
  Total 2/     :   600,661       50,805       651,465       3,289        155
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See footnotes at end of table.
                                                                   -- continued
 
          Poultry Slaughter:  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations
          by Type, Month, and Total, United States, 1998 1/ (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                   Turkeys                    :
               :----------------------------------------------:      Total
     Month     :  Fryer-    :         :           :   Total   :     Poultry
               :  Roasters  :  Young  :    Old    :  Turkeys  :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                       1,000 Pounds
Ante-Mortem    :
 (Live Weight) :
               :
  Jan          :    ---         1,590        30        1,620         16,495
  Feb          :    ---         1,373        38        1,411         13,472
  Mar          :    ---         1,756        31        1,787         15,964
  Apr          :    ---         1,353        25        1,377         13,616
  May          :    ---         1,350        21        1,371         13,979
  Jun          :    ---         1,702        45        1,748         19,448
  Jul          :    ---         2,124        38        2,162         22,766
  Aug          :      1         1,832        72        1,905         20,393
  Sep          :    ---         1,636        40        1,676         18,101
  Oct          :    ---         1,239        29        1,268         14,041
  Nov          :    ---         1,087        15        1,103         13,043
  Dec          :      2         1,475        29        1,506         20,968
               :
  Total 2/     :      3        18,517       413       18,934        202,287
               :
Post-Mortem    :
 (N.Y. Dressed :
  Weight)      :
               :
  Jan          :    ---        11,389       320       11,709         66,669
  Feb          :    ---        11,321       337       11,658         65,028
  Mar          :    ---        12,044       243       12,287         70,768
  Apr          :    ---        11,043       262       11,305         69,253
  May          :    ---         9,395       218        9,613         61,570
  Jun          :    ---        10,515       308       10,823         62,600
  Jul          :    ---        11,031       221       11,252         66,815
  Aug          :      7        10,909       229       11,145         65,799
  Sep          :    ---        11,045       225       11,269         64,480
  Oct          :    ---        11,223       266       11,489         66,638
  Nov          :    ---        10,496       146       10,642         63,013
  Dec          :     14        10,148       215       10,376         65,847
               :
  Total 2/     :     22       130,558     2,990      133,569        788,479
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Federally inspected only.
2/  Months may not add to total due to rounding of monthly data.
 
                 Total Poultry Slaughtered (Ready-to-cook Weights),
                            United States, 1997 and 1998
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :       Federal     :     Non-Federal    :       Total
         Year   :    Inspection 1/  :    Inspection 2/   :     Inspection
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :                      (Million Pounds)
         1997   :       33,372                 40                 33,412
         1998   :       33,785                 29                 33,814
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1/ Includes chickens, turkeys, ducks and other poultry.
    2/ Includes chickens and turkeys only.
 
                    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..............................................................   27
 
 
Mature Chickens, Selected States and U.S., February 1998-1999
  Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight ................   11
  Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause ....................................   12
  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations ........................   11
 
 
Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause,
 U.S., February 1998-1999 ...............................................   14
 
 
Poultry by Type, U.S., February 1998 with Comparisons
  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations ............................     6
  Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) ............................     4
  Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight ...............     2
 
 
Reliability Statement...................................................    26
 
 
Young Chickens, Selected States and U.S., February 1998-1999
  Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight ................    8
  Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause ....................................   10
  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations ........................    9
 
 
Young Turkeys (Mature), Selected States and U.S., February 1998-1999
  Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight ................   13
  Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause ....................................   14
  Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations ........................   13
 
 
1997-98 Poultry Slaughter:  Total Pounds Certified (RTC),
 Federal Inspection and Non-Federal Inspection, U.S .....................   25
 
 
1998 Poultry by Type, Month, and Total, U.S.
  Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations .............................   23
  Average Live Weight ...................................................   17
  Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) .............................   19
  Chilled Plus Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) ............................   21
  Number Inspected and Live Weight ......................................   15
 
 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET
on May 4, 1999.
 
 
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race,
color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all
prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who
require alternative means for communication of program information
(braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET
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To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or
TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
 
 
 
 
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