Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released January 6, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Poultry Slaughter" call Jim Brewster (202) 720-8784, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 1 Percent Poultry Certified Wholesome during November (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 2.51 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the amount certified in November 1996. Updated totals for October 1997 show that 3.06 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during November 1997 was 3.38 billion pounds. Inspections included 2.73 billion pounds of young chickens, 54.8 million pounds of mature chickens, 582 million pounds of turkeys, and 10.4 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during November 1997 averaged 4.87 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from the average live weight a year ago. The average live weight of mature chickens was down 3 percent from 5.08 pounds per bird the previous year to 4.94 pounds. Turkeys slaughtered during November 1997 averaged 23.7 pounds per bird, up three percent from November 1996. Ante-mortem condemnations during November 1997 totaled 11.1 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.33 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.35 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 56.3 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.85 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.78 percent a year earlier. November 1997 contained 20 weekdays (including two holidays) and five Saturdays, while November 1996 contained 21 weekdays (including two holidays) and five 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, November 1997 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Oct 1997 : 699,569 14,328 713,898 2,114 ----- Nov 1996 : 573,057 9,727 582,784 1,781 ----- Nov 1997 : 559,631 11,088 570,719 1,555 ----- : Jan-Nov 1996 : 6,951,209 141,403 7,092,612 18,811 ----- Jan-Nov 1997 : 7,079,143 153,013 7,232,157 19,936 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Oct 1997 : 3,383,611 73,270 3,456,881 14,183 2,477 Nov 1996 : 2,757,260 49,400 2,806,660 11,857 1,643 Nov 1997 : 2,726,993 54,790 2,781,783 10,409 942 : Jan-Nov 1996 : 33,157,347 741,675 33,899,022 125,061 12,558 Jan-Nov 1997 : 34,016,656 765,675 34,782,331 132,942 19,843 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Oct 1997 : 4.84 5.11 4.84 6.71 ----- Nov 1996 : 4.81 5.08 4.82 6.66 ----- Nov 1997 : 4.87 4.94 4.87 6.69 ----- : Jan-Nov 1996 : 4.77 5.25 4.78 6.65 ----- Jan-Nov 1997 : 4.81 5.00 4.81 6.67 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, November 1997 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Oct 1997 : 2 27,220 185 27,407 ----- Nov 1996 : 7 25,745 132 25,884 ----- Nov 1997 : --- 24,490 133 24,622 ----- : Jan-Nov 1996 : 177 268,722 1,922 270,822 ----- Jan-Nov 1997 : 68 264,987 1,632 266,687 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Oct 1997 : 19 651,382 4,599 656,000 4,129,541 Nov 1996 : 72 588,585 3,232 591,890 3,412,049 Nov 1997 : --- 578,670 3,649 582,319 3,375,454 : Jan-Nov 1996 : 1,574 6,349,308 49,451 6,400,333 40,436,974 Jan-Nov 1997 : 658 6,331,579 41,933 6,374,171 41,309,287 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Oct 1997 : 7.74 23.93 24.83 23.94 ----- Nov 1996 : 9.82 22.86 24.55 22.87 ----- Nov 1997 : --- 23.63 27.47 23.65 ----- : Jan-Nov 1996 : 8.87 23.63 25.72 23.63 ----- Jan-Nov 1997 : 9.62 23.89 25.69 23.90 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: November 1996: 3,856, November 1997: 3,926. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: November 1996: 74, November 1997: 64. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, November 1997 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Oct 1997 : Chilled : 2,261,769 41,235 2,303,004 3,246 683 Frozen : 226,026 3,698 229,725 6,799 775 : Total : 2,487,795 44,934 2,532,729 10,045 1,458 : Nov 1996 : Chilled : 1,830,776 29,794 1,860,570 3,356 401 Frozen : 182,461 718 183,179 5,088 496 : Total : 2,013,236 30,512 2,043,748 8,444 897 : Nov 1997 : Chilled : 1,819,552 31,952 1,851,504 2,625 318 Frozen : 189,395 1,823 191,218 4,788 217 : Total : 2,008,946 33,775 2,042,722 7,413 535 : : Jan-Nov 1996 : Chilled : 22,193,216 431,342 22,624,557 32,340 2,626 Frozen : 2,043,296 20,073 2,063,369 57,735 4,467 : Total : 24,236,511 451,415 24,687,926 90,075 7,093 : Jan-Nov 1997 : Chilled : 22,702,997 438,323 23,141,320 33,212 7,276 Frozen : 2,230,479 25,224 2,255,703 61,555 4,559 : Total : 24,933,476 463,548 25,397,024 94,767 11,835 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, November 1997 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Oct 1997 : Chilled : 13 245,426 2,078 247,518 2,554,451 Frozen : --- 264,327 1,574 265,901 503,199 : Total : 13 509,753 3,652 513,418 3,057,651 : Nov 1996 : Chilled : --- 248,053 1,492 249,545 2,113,871 Frozen : 53 217,852 987 218,892 407,655 : Total : 53 465,904 2,479 468,437 2,521,526 : Nov 1997 : Chilled : --- 242,060 1,231 243,291 2,097,737 Frozen : --- 211,746 1,554 213,300 409,523 : Total : --- 453,806 2,785 456,591 2,507,260 : : Jan-Nov 1996 : Chilled : 3 2,402,557 25,171 2,427,731 25,087,254 Frozen : 1,203 2,605,033 12,132 2,618,367 4,743,938 : Total : 1,207 5,007,589 37,302 5,046,098 29,831,193 : Jan-Nov 1997 : Chilled : 86 2,410,104 20,589 2,430,779 25,612,587 Frozen : 395 2,577,736 11,389 2,589,521 4,911,338 : Total : 482 4,987,840 31,978 5,020,300 30,523,926 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. Totals may not add due to rounding. Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, November 1997 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Oct 1997 : 10,717 891 11,608 17 29 Nov 1996 : 9,668 666 10,334 11 10 Nov 1997 : 9,052 733 9,786 11 2 : Jan-Nov 1996 : 124,730 11,829 136,559 121 70 Jan-Nov 1997 : 118,729 12,781 131,510 136 90 : Percent 2/ : : Nov 1996 : 0.35 1.35 0.37 0.09 0.63 Nov 1997 : 0.33 1.34 0.35 0.10 0.16 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Oct 1997 : 51,112 4,229 55,342 278 31 Nov 1996 : 40,523 2,872 43,395 254 15 Nov 1997 : 42,147 3,059 45,206 213 9 : Jan-Nov 1996 : 506,587 42,829 549,416 2,042 145 Jan-Nov 1997 : 524,763 47,280 572,043 2,658 184 : Percent 3/ : : Nov 1996 : 1.63 6.46 1.72 2.38 1.01 Nov 1997 : 1.72 6.20 1.81 2.28 1.01 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, November 1997 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Oct 1997 : --- 1,297 17 1,314 12,968 Nov 1996 : --- 1,518 18 1,536 11,891 Nov 1997 : --- 1,294 22 1,316 11,114 : Jan-Nov 1996 : 7 18,846 465 19,319 156,068 Jan-Nov 1997 : 2 18,640 290 18,932 150,668 : Percent 2/ : : Nov 1996 : 0.24 0.26 0.57 0.26 0.35 Nov 1997 : --- 0.22 0.61 0.23 0.33 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Oct 1997 : 1 12,292 190 12,484 68,135 Nov 1996 : 1 10,841 197 11,039 54,704 Nov 1997 : --- 10,687 149 10,836 56,264 : Jan-Nov 1996 : 30 122,578 3,060 125,667 677,270 Jan-Nov 1997 : 21 125,304 2,310 127,635 702,520 : Percent 3/ : : Nov 1996 : 1.58 2.05 6.78 2.07 1.78 Nov 1997 : --- 2.05 4.55 2.07 1.85 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, November 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 : 65,196 66,979 314,310 325,622 4.82 4.86 AR : 86,504 87,066 420,399 419,941 4.86 4.82 CA : 16,148 15,325 79,547 81,520 4.93 5.32 DE : 20,162 20,108 111,810 109,909 5.55 5.47 FL : 10,203 10,764 47,146 50,443 4.62 4.69 GA : 81,612 80,168 404,647 398,999 4.96 4.98 LA : 10,447 11,573 46,961 56,252 4.50 4.86 MD : 16,016 15,506 76,768 74,404 4.79 4.80 MS : 50,472 49,731 228,106 236,824 4.52 4.76 MO : 26,401 25,632 114,267 111,215 4.33 4.34 NC : 45,614 37,985 242,076 211,832 5.31 5.58 PA : 8,021 7,979 40,436 41,904 5.04 5.25 SC : 17,460 14,672 77,281 69,260 4.43 4.72 TN : 12,713 10,971 56,869 52,029 4.47 4.74 TX : 38,665 37,352 178,342 173,500 4.61 4.65 VA : 26,291 25,005 126,374 119,861 4.81 4.79 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 573,057 559,631 2,757,260 2,726,993 4.81 4.87 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 229,927 239,963 5,544 8,193 1.96 2.80 AR : 300,516 302,272 5,198 4,817 1.37 1.27 CA : 58,566 58,841 1,213 1,257 1.69 1.71 DE : 79,537 80,124 1,869 1,721 1.86 1.74 FL : 33,965 36,361 676 996 1.59 2.19 GA : 300,076 292,876 7,275 6,353 2.00 1.77 LA : 33,129 40,214 653 1,016 1.54 2.01 MD : 54,806 53,153 1,343 1,158 1.67 1.73 MS : 174,709 179,944 2,016 2,777 0.98 1.30 MO : 84,251 80,612 1,501 1,458 1.46 1.46 NC : 180,103 156,483 3,459 3,546 1.59 1.86 PA : 27,956 29,165 1,133 1,133 3.11 3.00 SC : 57,064 67,026 1,323 1,317 1.90 2.11 TN : 40,374 36,452 607 510 1.19 1.09 TX : 131,896 131,671 2,311 2,076 1.44 1.33 VA : 87,804 82,766 1,505 1,473 1.32 1.37 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 2,013,236 2,008,946 40,523 42,147 1.63 1.72 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, November 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 1,967 186,897 240,652 3,203 10,272 AR : --- 4,959 262,766 120,221 9,674 6,605 CA : --- --- 84,893 6,629 761 --- DE : --- --- 90,813 48,414 --- --- FL : --- 654 --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- 146,071 248,475 1,718 11,505 LA : --- 262 40,646 28,945 --- 2,005 MD : --- 10,760 84,958 40,831 139 6,642 MS : --- --- 89,440 53,848 1,731 8,156 MO : --- 6,673 95,417 24,568 1,497 1,715 NC : --- 3,481 111,899 75,321 103 47,570 PA : --- 3,065 32,701 29,287 323 --- SC : --- --- 20,472 --- 47 2,685 TN : --- 304 40,064 12,879 --- --- TX : --- --- 106,570 32,011 971 2,022 VA : --- 2,199 71,255 43,495 --- --- WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 73,200 1,658,842 1,155,250 28,794 147,713 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 11,445 39,143 53,910 12,980 366,847 927,316 AR : 10,759 24,591 47,135 3,798 76,291 566,799 CA : 432 6,376 2,704 --- 37,198 138,993 DE : 3,163 7,784 13,929 --- 35,861 199,964 FL : 1,412 2,488 6,571 778 --- 11,903 GA : 10,523 35,407 33,708 15,608 233,460 736,475 LA : 1,961 7,064 9,067 494 --- 90,444 MD : 1,949 6,761 --- --- 20,999 173,039 MS : 5,216 19,937 21,700 2,872 164,719 367,619 MO : 2,168 8,362 18,811 --- 32,287 191,498 NC : 5,208 21,966 --- 6,107 118,987 390,642 PA : 1,969 3,465 --- 1,021 28,398 100,229 SC : 2,356 11,546 19,683 --- 64,950 121,739 TN : 2,048 4,106 11,696 856 16,746 88,699 TX : 1,760 14,516 13,719 1,201 10,994 183,764 VA : 2,934 10,841 20,248 --- 78,794 229,766 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 71,084 247,877 406,109 62,406 1,427,591 5,278,866 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 9,727 11,088 49,400 54,790 5.08 4.94 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 30,512 33,775 2,872 3,059 6.46 6.20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, November 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 3,993 202,033 17,214 439 121,344 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- 35 109 --- --- 144 GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 30,408 28,725 149,537 1,934 36,451 592,078 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 2,261 2,195 39,799 38,415 17.61 17.50 CA : 2,594 2,304 58,916 51,707 22.71 22.45 IA : 1,167 1,164 30,444 30,907 26.09 26.56 MN : 3,747 3,619 81,781 80,398 21.83 22.21 MO : 1,940 2,264 50,231 55,745 25.04 24.62 NC : 3,967 3,391 94,325 84,373 22.26 24.88 PA : 1,118 1,008 22,683 21,483 20.29 21.32 VA : 3,077 2,934 56,694 55,087 18.43 18.77 : US : 25,745 24,490 588,585 578,670 22.86 23.63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 32,646 31,173 644 454 1.80 1.31 CA : 46,364 40,265 815 667 1.54 1.43 IA : 23,274 24,068 611 627 2.23 2.25 MN : 64,739 65,076 2,103 2,316 2.86 3.20 MO : 40,731 42,539 988 1,183 2.19 2.36 NC : 74,198 65,492 1,708 1,390 2.01 1.83 PA : 17,780 17,049 235 535 1.15 2.77 VA : 45,479 40,915 858 805 1.68 1.62 : US : 465,904 453,806 10,841 10,687 2.05 2.05 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, November 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 6,701 --- --- --- CA : --- --- 11,355 378 --- 4 IA : --- --- 5,066 2,913 2,404 12 MN : --- 108 22,792 3,550 2,163 --- MO : --- --- 18,695 --- 280 --- NC : --- --- 4,901 --- --- --- PA : --- 5 --- --- --- --- VA : --- --- 5,483 251 --- --- : US : --- 371 106,189 17,114 6,748 86 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 821 --- 1,021 8,543 CA : 22 521 496 --- --- 12,776 IA : 30 36 --- --- --- 10,461 MN : 260 2,128 1,565 438 3,398 36,402 MO : 77 --- 781 --- 1,801 21,634 NC : 67 1,466 --- --- 994 7,428 PA : 93 --- --- 40 498 636 VA : --- 1,200 262 --- 1,256 8,452 : US : 1,019 8,469 8,505 2,566 14,234 165,301 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, November 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- --- 2,356 491 --- 23 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- 137 80 27 727 3,841 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poultry Slaughter Estimates Data Sources:Primary data for commercial poultry slaughter estimates are obtained from the Poultry Inspection Form (FSIS 6000-21) completed by inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA. This form provides actual counts of birds slaughtered in Federally Inspected (FI) plants. Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for any species is under FI. The FSIS 6000-21 forms collect number of head slaughtered daily under FI by species and class as well as condemnations and total live and dressed weights. Approximately 350 plants in the U.S. are operated under Federal Inspection. Annual totals of poultry slaughtered under State-administered Non-Federal Inspection (NFI) are published in the April release. Revision Policy:Revisions are generally the result of late reports received by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half of 1 percent of the preliminary totals. Revisions for the previous month and year-to-date totals are published in each monthly release. Final data are published in the annual summary released in April and reflect any late reports or corrections which occurred after the monthly revision were published. Procedures and Reliability:Plant inspectors submit forms (FSIS 6000-21) weekly summarizing the plant's activity. When inconsistencies in the data are detected, the reports are returned to the inspectors for correction. Inspectors correct or validate the report and resubmit it. The reports cover weekly activities through Saturday night and reported data are allocated to the appropriate month as it enters the database. A NASS computer program provides a review of current data with historical data for each plant. An edit provides checks for the detection of errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data. The program also generates a missing reports listing for a telephone follow-up. Data are summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this release. Major slaughter plants with missing reports are adjusted prior to publication to assure that all plants slaughtering a significant portion of a specific class are accounted for each week. Estimates for missing weeks are made only after verifying that the plant was in operation. Adjustments are based on either the previous week's information or a week determined to be similar to the one missing. Late reports replace imputed data as they become available. While there will continue to be a varying degree of incompleteness from month to month, it is expected to have only a minimal impact on the final totals. Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and, therefore, have no sampling error. However, they may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Generally, no State data are published if less than three plants operate for a species in a State, or if one plant has 60 percent or more of the total head for that species. These data are included in the U.S. totals. Definitions Used To Report Federally Inspected Slaughter Ante-Mortem Condemnations - Birds condemned prior to their entry into the slaughter plant. Certified Ready-to-Cook - The weight of poultry certified wholesome by inspection after post-mortem condemnation pounds are removed. Ready-to-cook represents poultry meat ready for the marketing channel. Ducks - Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight. Fryer-Roaster Turkeys - Young immature birds, usually under 16 weeks of age. Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks. New York Dressed Weight - Carcass weight after only feathers and blood are removed. This weight is approximately 90% of live weight. Old Turkeys (Breeders) - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 months of age. Other Poultry - Includes all other ready-to-cook products which bear the U.S.D.A. Inspected for Wholesomeness legend. Post-Mortem Condemnations - Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector because of disease or mishandling and removed from the slaughter line and destroyed. Young Chickens - Commercially grown broilers-fryers and other young immature birds such as roasters and capons. Young Turkeys (Mature) - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about 5 months. Index Page Definitions.............................................................. 16 Mature Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, U.S., November 1996-1997.................................................. 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997.............................. 11 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., November 1996-1997................................................. 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., November 1996-1997................................................. 14 Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type, U.S., November 1997...................................................... 4 Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, U.S., November 1997............................................. 6 Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, U.S., November 1997................................. 2 Reliability Statement.................................................... 15 Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997............................. 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997.............................. 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997............................. 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997................. 12 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997.............................. 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., November 1996-1997.............................. 12 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on February 3, 1998. 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Document 0411 is a list of available reports. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK: 800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada) Other areas, please call 703-834-0125 FAX: 703-834-0110 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ASSISTANCE For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. USDA Announces Agricultural Outlook Forum 98 February 23 and 24, 1998 Washington, D.C. Presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Survey the New Frontiers. Survey the frontiers of agriculture at USDA's seventy-fourth outlook forum. Catch the latest commodity prospects for 1998 and beyond and receive new long-term projections to the year 2007. Hear noted experts and farm leaders tackle front line issues: managing risk, selling bio-engineered products, ensuring food safety, marketing organic foods, honing export strategies, and more. Act Now To Attend. For program and registration details check the Forum home page, call (202) 720-3050, or dial (202) 694-5700 from your fax machine handset and retrieve document 66666. Call (202) 401-9421 to register. Ag Forum home page: http://www.usda.gov/oce/waob/agforum.htm e-mail: agforum@oce.usda.gov Agricultural Outlook Forum 98