HDR1012000150080708971500POULTRY SLAUGHTER Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 8, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Poultry Slaughter" call Jim Brewster at (202) 720-8784, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Ready-to-Cook Weight Unchanged Poultry Certified Wholesome during May (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 2.83 billion pounds, virtually the same as the amount certified in May 1996. Updated totals for April 1997 show that 2.85 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during May 1997 was 3.85 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.17 billion pounds of young chickens, 75.2 million pounds of mature chickens, 587 million pounds of turkeys, and 12.6 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during May 1997 averaged 4.81 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from the average live weight a year ago. The average live weight of mature chickens was down 4 percent from 5.10 pounds per bird the previous year to 4.91 pounds. Turkeys slaughtered during May 1997 averaged 24.6 pounds per bird, up two percent from May 1996. Ante-mortem condemnations during May 1997 totaled 11.8 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.31 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.34 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 64.3 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.86 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.84 percent a year earlier. May 1997 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays, while May 1996 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. Each weekday represents approximately 5 percent of the month's total. Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, May 1997 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Apr 1997 : 660,234 15,945 676,179 1,834 ----- May 1996 : 663,234 13,697 676,931 1,732 ----- May 1997 : 659,567 15,312 674,878 1,862 ----- : Jan-May 1996 : 3,169,766 68,579 3,238,346 8,162 ----- Jan-May 1997 : 3,193,338 72,713 3,266,051 8,888 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Apr 1997 : 3,208,563 74,545 3,283,108 12,455 1,074 May 1996 : 3,148,746 69,794 3,218,539 11,607 912 May 1997 : 3,171,672 75,185 3,246,857 12,621 1,183 : Jan-May 1996 : 15,206,592 354,263 15,560,855 54,818 3,294 Jan-May 1997 : 15,464,834 354,575 15,819,408 59,772 5,662 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Apr 1997 : 4.86 4.68 4.86 6.79 ----- May 1996 : 4.75 5.10 4.75 6.70 ----- May 1997 : 4.81 4.91 4.81 6.78 ----- : Jan-May 1996 : 4.80 5.17 4.81 6.72 ----- Jan-May 1997 : 4.84 4.88 4.84 6.73 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, May 1997 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Apr 1997 : 35 23,361 148 23,544 ----- May 1996 : 21 25,345 103 25,469 ----- May 1997 : 14 23,696 140 23,850 ----- : Jan-May 1996 : 89 114,623 784 115,496 ----- Jan-May 1997 : 65 111,727 612 112,404 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Apr 1997 : 318 567,576 4,095 571,989 3,868,625 May 1996 : 178 610,666 2,847 613,692 3,844,750 May 1997 : 121 583,048 3,551 586,720 3,847,381 : Jan-May 1996 : 803 2,756,092 21,185 2,778,080 18,397,047 Jan-May 1997 : 627 2,715,725 16,392 2,732,744 18,617,586 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Apr 1997 : 9.01 24.30 27.62 24.29 ----- May 1996 : 8.52 24.09 27.72 24.10 ----- May 1997 : 8.70 24.61 25.40 24.60 ----- : Jan-May 1996 : 9.03 24.04 27.03 24.05 ----- Jan-May 1997 : 9.65 24.31 26.79 24.31 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1996: 5,266, May 1997: 5,314. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: May 1996: 86, May 1997: 101. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, May 1997 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Apr 1997 : Chilled : 2,142,590 42,978 2,185,569 3,201 359 Frozen : 200,687 1,686 202,373 5,662 247 : Total : 2,343,277 44,664 2,387,942 8,863 606 : May 1996 : Chilled : 2,116,409 40,352 2,156,761 3,031 235 Frozen : 182,987 2,287 185,275 5,418 262 : Total : 2,299,396 42,640 2,342,036 8,449 497 : May 1997 : Chilled : 2,120,127 43,499 2,163,626 3,081 398 Frozen : 193,634 2,302 195,937 5,904 241 : Total : 2,313,761 45,801 2,359,562 8,986 639 : : Jan-May 1996 : Chilled : 10,187,003 205,120 10,392,123 14,913 831 Frozen : 924,129 9,943 934,072 24,704 1,053 : Total : 11,111,132 215,062 11,326,195 39,617 1,884 : Jan-May 1997 : Chilled : 10,331,463 204,667 10,536,130 15,709 1,936 Frozen : 953,404 8,664 962,068 26,968 1,166 : Total : 11,284,867 213,332 11,498,198 42,677 3,102 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, May 1997 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Apr 1997 : Chilled : --- 212,316 2,407 214,723 2,403,852 Frozen : 232 235,718 712 236,662 444,944 : Total : 233 448,034 3,119 451,385 2,848,796 : May 1996 : Chilled : 2 227,676 1,431 229,109 2,389,136 Frozen : 138 255,276 699 256,113 447,068 : Total : 139 482,953 2,131 485,223 2,836,204 : May 1997 : Chilled : --- 224,607 1,935 226,541 2,393,647 Frozen : 88 235,293 707 236,087 438,169 : Total : 88 459,899 2,642 462,629 2,831,816 : : Jan-May 1996 : Chilled : 3 1,062,694 11,853 1,074,550 11,482,416 Frozen : 630 1,112,417 4,081 1,117,128 2,076,957 : Total : 633 2,175,110 15,934 2,191,678 13,559,373 : Jan-May 1997 : Chilled : 70 1,048,031 9,712 1,057,813 11,611,588 Frozen : 390 1,088,375 2,759 1,091,524 2,081,726 : Total : 460 2,136,405 12,471 2,149,336 13,693,314 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Apr 1997 : 10,308 1,057 11,365 12 3 May 1996 : 10,454 1,153 11,608 9 6 May 1997 : 9,493 954 10,447 13 4 : Jan-May 1996 : 61,061 5,595 66,656 39 18 Jan-May 1997 : 52,261 5,556 57,817 52 23 : Percent 2/ : : May 1996 : 0.33 1.65 0.36 0.08 0.65 May 1997 : 0.30 1.27 0.32 0.10 0.31 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Apr 1997 : 50,409 4,681 55,091 242 10 May 1996 : 47,993 3,803 51,796 176 9 May 1997 : 48,300 4,597 52,897 249 11 : Jan-May 1996 : 246,222 20,110 266,333 816 39 Jan-May 1997 : 246,865 21,754 268,619 1,230 54 : Percent 3/ : : May 1996 : 1.69 6.05 1.79 1.69 1.14 May 1997 : 1.69 6.79 1.81 2.19 0.99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, May 1997 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Apr 1997 : 1 1,251 20 1,272 12,652 May 1996 : 2 1,602 25 1,629 13,251 May 1997 : --- 1,298 29 1,328 11,791 : Jan-May 1996 : 4 8,106 222 8,332 75,045 Jan-May 1997 : 1 9,177 147 9,324 67,216 : Percent 2/ : : May 1996 : 1.04 0.26 0.89 0.27 0.34 May 1997 : 0.28 0.22 0.83 0.23 0.31 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Apr 1997 : 8 11,071 250 11,329 66,671 May 1996 : 4 11,494 202 11,699 63,681 May 1997 : 4 10,843 252 11,099 64,255 : Jan-May 1996 : 11 55,876 1,372 57,260 324,448 Jan-May 1997 : 19 55,459 957 56,435 326,337 : Percent 3/ : : May 1996 : 2.42 2.09 7.87 2.12 1.84 May 1997 : 3.31 2.07 7.89 2.10 1.86 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1996-97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AL : 74,777 73,941 355,193 353,241 4.75 4.78 AR : 99,137 98,097 468,535 475,634 4.73 4.85 CA : 22,101 21,192 115,152 106,350 5.21 5.02 DE : 24,027 22,973 130,223 126,828 5.42 5.52 FL : 11,010 12,262 48,865 56,192 4.44 4.58 GA : 95,582 94,106 462,804 472,293 4.84 5.02 LA : 14,667 11,915 67,401 52,808 4.60 4.43 MD : 17,845 17,828 84,313 82,969 4.72 4.65 MS : 56,467 61,545 256,244 279,495 4.54 4.54 MO : 29,693 29,153 125,629 125,887 4.23 4.32 NC : 58,174 51,873 299,682 283,526 5.15 5.47 PA : 8,788 9,697 44,355 50,185 5.05 5.18 SC : 20,662 19,321 92,313 87,350 4.47 4.52 TN : 15,094 15,234 66,506 69,102 4.41 4.54 TX : 38,940 41,489 172,547 188,157 4.43 4.54 VA : 32,404 31,611 155,674 144,254 4.80 4.56 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 663,234 659,567 3,148,746 3,171,672 4.75 4.81 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1996-97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : AL : 261,687 259,127 7,027 7,130 2.20 2.24 AR : 336,916 341,777 6,187 5,694 1.47 1.33 CA : 83,738 77,899 1,531 1,730 1.48 1.81 DE : 94,201 91,638 2,592 2,442 2.21 2.14 FL : 36,079 36,379 743 791 1.69 1.56 GA : 342,154 347,007 6,729 7,601 1.62 1.79 LA : 48,551 37,820 1,008 871 1.66 1.83 MD : 59,727 58,531 1,628 1,522 2.15 2.04 MS : 193,702 213,504 2,561 2,635 1.11 1.05 MO : 91,311 91,343 1,790 1,606 1.58 1.42 NC : 221,199 211,070 3,933 5,509 1.46 2.16 PA : 31,307 35,218 1,403 1,204 3.52 2.66 SC : 65,780 64,718 1,413 1,528 1.70 1.94 TN : 48,375 48,897 643 749 1.07 1.20 TX : 131,776 142,089 1,910 2,201 1.23 1.30 VA : 106,448 99,400 3,690 1,765 2.63 1.36 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 2,299,396 2,313,761 47,993 48,300 1.69 1.69 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 5,631 206,574 257,513 5,355 8,417 AR : --- 8,430 305,955 120,605 13,417 8,613 CA : --- --- 116,141 16,883 1,616 6,476 DE : --- 29,806 110,130 119,469 --- --- FL : --- 1,970 --- --- --- --- GA : --- 3,316 170,714 225,315 1,658 13,942 LA : --- --- --- 14,986 490 2,289 MD : --- 24,143 98,301 54,937 35 7,718 MS : --- 4,566 94,023 30,612 2,183 9,616 MO : --- 6,982 175,655 27,559 1,946 2,246 NC : --- 32,541 165,748 104,346 256 38,301 PA : --- 2,758 35,945 40,294 405 --- SC : --- --- 32,873 83,285 151 3,212 TN : --- --- 53,080 15,865 --- --- TX : --- --- 120,794 33,983 595 2,612 VA : --- --- 86,652 38,202 307 --- WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 1,924 158,552 2,055,305 1,238,784 44,064 149,325 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 11,785 26,929 67,336 10,814 280,129 880,483 AR : 14,120 31,553 65,391 4,219 99,635 671,938 CA : 605 8,012 3,353 885 43,130 197,101 DE : 2,833 8,379 15,229 1,425 57,634 344,905 FL : 1,692 3,947 7,857 --- --- 15,466 GA : 17,094 36,782 57,571 13,451 235,451 775,294 LA : --- --- --- --- 19,451 37,216 MD : 1,952 12,096 --- 1,824 22,238 223,244 MS : 6,488 19,753 27,908 2,821 120,384 318,354 MO : 2,939 11,821 20,898 1,398 30,195 281,639 NC : 6,788 28,945 71,701 7,019 217,135 672,780 PA : 2,791 3,332 --- --- 30,129 115,654 SC : 3,882 17,769 23,001 3,253 81,435 248,861 TN : 2,685 6,319 --- --- 28,226 106,175 TX : 1,523 12,818 18,104 1,012 14,056 205,497 VA : 3,473 7,472 26,444 928 101,300 264,778 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 89,898 258,938 514,456 61,352 1,570,617 6,143,215 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, May 1996-97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 13,697 15,312 69,794 75,185 5.10 4.91 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1996-97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 42,640 45,801 3,803 4,597 6.05 6.79 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 4,966 266,603 21,527 571 131,611 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- 15 --- --- --- 15 GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 34,331 65,210 211,938 5,638 80,990 823,385 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, May 1996-97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AR : 2,377 2,324 46,124 42,091 19.41 18.11 CA : 1,798 1,575 38,289 35,389 21.29 22.47 IA : 1,164 1,130 33,431 31,149 28.71 27.56 MN : 3,702 3,643 81,050 83,879 21.89 23.03 MO : 2,018 1,967 54,743 55,820 27.12 28.38 NC : 4,380 3,761 110,615 99,574 25.26 26.47 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 3,484 2,851 67,177 57,791 19.28 20.27 : US : 25,345 23,696 610,666 583,048 24.09 24.61 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1996-97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : AR : 37,870 34,836 1,041 545 2.51 1.44 CA : 31,199 28,379 484 425 1.40 1.33 IA : 25,706 24,326 801 654 2.66 2.33 MN : 64,336 66,632 2,008 2,129 2.75 2.82 MO : 43,087 44,078 1,419 1,217 2.88 2.42 NC : 87,139 78,691 1,622 1,621 1.63 1.81 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 52,697 44,149 853 764 1.41 1.47 : US : 482,953 459,899 11,494 10,843 2.09 2.07 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 6,091 --- --- 4 CA : --- --- 4,992 107 --- 13 IA : --- --- --- 2,174 --- --- MN : --- --- 18,854 3,602 1,412 --- MO : --- --- 21,118 2,004 203 --- NC : --- --- 4,957 --- --- --- PA : --- --- 6,520 --- --- --- VA : --- --- 4,986 --- --- --- : US : --- 744 97,346 14,654 6,599 146 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- 418 1,553 566 857 9,489 CA : --- 527 --- --- 561 6,200 IA : --- --- --- --- --- 2,174 MN : 182 1,371 2,013 --- 2,054 29,488 MO : 112 239 569 --- 998 25,243 NC : 71 2,393 --- --- 1,001 8,422 PA : 156 --- --- --- --- 6,676 VA : 27 775 163 --- 1,698 7,649 : US : 1,056 7,666 11,775 2,047 12,225 154,258 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, May 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- 154 3,818 582 --- 37 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : 8 199 182 --- 1,121 6,101 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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............................................................. 17 Mature Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, U.S., May 1996-1997..................................................... 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997................................. 12 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., May 1996-1997..................................................... 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., May 1996-1997..................................................... 15 Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type, U.S., May 1996.......................................................... 4 Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, U.S., May 1996................................................. 6 Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, U.S., May 1996..................................... 2 Reliability Statement.................................................... 16 Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997................................. 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997................................. 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997................................. 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997.................... 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997................................. 14 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., May 1996-1997................................. 13 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET on August 5, 1997. 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