Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 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 5 Percent Poultry Certified Wholesome during May (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 2.73 billion pounds, down 5 percent from the amount certified in May 1997. Updated totals for April 1998 show that 2.89 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during May 1998 was 3.70 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.08 billion pounds of young chickens, 75.6 million pounds of mature chickens, 529 million pounds of turkeys, and 12.2 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during May 1998 averaged 4.88 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from May 1997. The average weight of mature chickens was 5.16 pounds per bird, up 6 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during May 1998 averaged 25.3 pounds per bird, up three percent from May last year. Ante-mortem condemnations during May 1998 totaled 14.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.38 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.31 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 61.4 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.84 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.85 percent a year earlier. May 1998 contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays, May 1997 had 22 weekdays (including one holiday) 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, May 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Apr 1998 : 659,824 16,448 676,272 1,895 ----- May 1997 : 667,566 15,743 683,309 1,906 ----- May 1998 : 631,518 14,644 646,162 1,862 ----- : Jan-May 1997 : 3,207,368 73,144 3,280,512 8,932 ----- Jan-May 1998 : 3,220,578 71,568 3,292,147 9,388 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Apr 1998 : 3,248,692 80,287 3,328,978 12,657 1,075 May 1997 : 3,214,609 76,626 3,291,235 12,907 1,195 May 1998 : 3,082,996 75,622 3,158,618 12,151 990 : Jan-May 1997 : 15,539,307 356,016 15,895,323 60,058 5,677 Jan-May 1998 : 15,689,887 361,100 16,050,987 62,410 5,220 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Apr 1998 : 4.92 4.88 4.92 6.68 ----- May 1997 : 4.82 4.87 4.82 6.77 ----- May 1998 : 4.88 5.16 4.89 6.53 ----- : Jan-May 1997 : 4.84 4.87 4.85 6.72 ----- Jan-May 1998 : 4.87 5.05 4.88 6.65 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, May 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Apr 1998 : --- 22,380 147 22,527 ----- May 1997 : 14 24,011 140 24,165 ----- May 1998 : --- 20,782 108 20,890 ----- : Jan-May 1997 : 65 112,096 612 112,773 ----- Jan-May 1998 : --- 107,888 715 108,603 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Apr 1998 : --- 572,508 3,865 576,373 3,919,083 May 1997 : 121 592,683 3,551 596,355 3,901,692 May 1998 : --- 526,255 2,750 529,005 3,700,764 : Jan-May 1997 : 627 2,726,756 16,392 2,743,775 18,704,833 Jan-May 1998 : --- 2,729,323 19,230 2,748,553 18,867,169 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Apr 1998 : --- 25.58 26.34 25.59 ----- May 1997 : 8.70 24.68 25.40 24.68 ----- May 1998 : --- 25.32 25.45 25.32 ----- : Jan-May 1997 : 9.65 24.33 26.79 24.33 ----- Jan-May 1998 : --- 25.30 26.89 25.31 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997: 5,358, May 1998: 5,902. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: May 1997: 101, May 1998: 88. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, May 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Apr 1998 : Chilled : 2,164,322 43,994 2,208,316 3,168 387 Frozen : 215,295 4,099 219,394 5,941 203 : Total : 2,379,617 48,093 2,427,710 9,109 590 : May 1997 : Chilled : 2,142,756 44,400 2,187,156 3,083 403 Frozen : 201,081 2,567 203,648 6,093 243 : Total : 2,343,837 46,967 2,390,804 9,176 646 : May 1998 : Chilled : 2,063,812 41,721 2,105,534 2,986 368 Frozen : 193,006 4,043 197,049 5,652 142 : Total : 2,256,818 45,765 2,302,583 8,638 510 : : Jan-May 1997 : Chilled : 10,373,015 205,569 10,578,584 15,711 1,943 Frozen : 963,256 8,929 972,185 27,156 1,169 : Total : 11,336,270 214,498 11,550,768 42,867 3,112 : Jan-May 1998 : Chilled : 10,445,525 199,551 10,645,077 15,388 1,884 Frozen : 1,035,831 17,756 1,053,587 29,015 1,004 : Total : 11,481,356 217,308 11,698,664 44,403 2,888 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, May 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Apr 1998 : Chilled : --- 214,244 1,973 216,217 2,428,088 Frozen : --- 237,932 938 238,870 464,408 : Total : --- 452,176 2,911 455,087 2,892,496 : May 1997 : Chilled : --- 225,340 1,935 227,275 2,417,917 Frozen : 88 240,472 707 241,267 451,250 : Total : 88 465,812 2,642 468,542 2,869,167 : May 1998 : Chilled : --- 192,516 1,238 193,754 2,302,642 Frozen : --- 224,934 780 225,714 428,558 : Total : --- 417,451 2,018 419,468 2,731,199 : : Jan-May 1997 : Chilled : 70 1,049,836 9,712 1,059,617 11,655,855 Frozen : 390 1,093,624 2,759 1,096,773 2,097,282 : Total : 460 2,143,459 12,471 2,156,390 13,753,137 : Jan-May 1998 : Chilled : --- 1,025,101 9,606 1,034,707 11,697,055 Frozen : --- 1,125,127 4,847 1,129,973 2,213,579 : Total : --- 2,150,227 14,453 2,164,680 13,910,635 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Apr 1998 : 11,109 1,108 12,217 11 4 May 1997 : 9,628 1,012 10,641 13 4 May 1998 : 11,185 1,424 12,609 13 11 : Jan-May 1997 : 52,520 5,615 58,135 52 23 Jan-May 1998 : 60,347 5,540 65,886 58 19 : Percent 2/ : : May 1997 : 0.30 1.32 0.32 0.10 0.30 May 1998 : 0.36 1.88 0.40 0.11 1.09 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Apr 1998 : 53,179 4,534 57,713 249 12 May 1997 : 48,692 4,695 53,386 257 11 May 1998 : 47,521 4,084 51,605 258 8 : Jan-May 1997 : 247,686 21,852 269,537 1,237 54 Jan-May 1998 : 254,021 21,246 275,267 1,291 47 : Percent 3/ : : May 1997 : 1.68 6.81 1.80 2.21 0.98 May 1998 : 1.71 6.00 1.82 2.36 0.93 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, May 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Apr 1998 : --- 1,369 25 1,394 13,625 May 1997 : --- 1,312 29 1,342 11,999 May 1998 : --- 1,332 21 1,353 13,985 : Jan-May 1997 : 1 9,191 147 9,338 67,548 Jan-May 1998 : --- 7,429 145 7,574 73,537 : Percent 2/ : : May 1997 : 0.28 0.22 0.83 0.22 0.31 May 1998 : --- 0.25 0.76 0.26 0.38 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Apr 1998 : --- 11,133 262 11,395 69,369 May 1997 : 4 10,971 252 11,226 64,881 May 1998 : --- 9,335 218 9,554 61,425 : Jan-May 1997 : 19 55,607 957 56,583 327,411 Jan-May 1998 : --- 55,285 1,381 56,665 333,270 : Percent 3/ : : May 1997 : 3.31 2.06 7.89 2.09 1.85 May 1998 : --- 1.97 8.82 2.01 1.84 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997-98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AL : 74,897 66,670 359,880 333,357 4.80 5.00 AR : 98,097 92,346 475,634 447,328 4.85 4.84 CA : 21,192 21,242 106,350 110,068 5.02 5.18 DE : 22,973 21,519 126,828 122,600 5.52 5.70 FL : 12,262 11,182 56,192 50,703 4.58 4.53 GA : 96,684 91,908 487,270 446,981 5.04 4.86 LA : 11,915 12,355 52,808 57,053 4.43 4.62 MD : 17,830 17,706 82,976 83,805 4.65 4.73 MS : 61,545 56,251 279,495 270,489 4.54 4.81 MO : 29,634 29,851 127,774 129,991 4.31 4.35 NC : 54,974 51,079 299,556 282,049 5.45 5.52 PA : 9,697 8,855 50,185 44,600 5.18 5.04 SC : 20,203 16,241 90,747 77,473 4.49 4.77 TN : 15,234 15,287 69,102 73,862 4.54 4.83 TX : 41,489 40,856 188,157 185,712 4.54 4.55 VA : 31,611 29,412 144,254 140,237 4.56 4.77 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 667,566 631,518 3,214,609 3,082,996 4.82 4.88 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1997-98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : AL : 262,976 244,703 7,274 6,849 2.25 2.28 AR : 341,777 319,597 5,694 5,566 1.33 1.38 CA : 77,899 80,309 1,730 1,851 1.81 1.87 DE : 91,638 87,209 2,442 2,403 2.14 2.18 FL : 36,379 36,266 791 877 1.56 1.92 GA : 357,842 331,625 7,723 6,952 1.76 1.73 LA : 37,820 40,482 871 882 1.83 1.72 MD : 58,537 59,653 1,522 1,124 2.04 1.49 MS : 213,504 205,480 2,635 3,928 1.05 1.61 MO : 92,749 94,315 1,627 1,415 1.41 1.21 NC : 222,530 213,372 5,589 4,724 2.07 1.86 PA : 35,218 31,084 1,204 1,354 2.66 3.37 SC : 67,237 56,623 1,554 1,411 1.90 2.02 TN : 48,897 53,675 749 846 1.20 1.27 TX : 142,089 141,520 2,201 2,127 1.30 1.27 VA : 99,400 98,428 1,765 1,725 1.36 1.37 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 2,343,836 2,256,818 48,692 47,521 1.68 1.71 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 1,847 181,478 144,848 3,184 13,458 AR : --- 4,976 306,962 120,007 11,228 6,367 CA : --- --- --- 11,321 1,747 --- DE : --- 26,411 108,841 82,352 122 --- FL : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- 14,264 139,429 171,335 1,194 12,195 LA : --- 230 35,345 19,911 --- 1,883 MD : --- 17,729 83,272 34,080 94 9,905 MS : --- --- 114,259 91,033 2,346 8,713 MO : --- 4,262 86,990 17,876 1,877 1,815 NC : --- 10,064 147,478 72,429 50 64,431 PA : --- 3,002 35,480 32,447 263 --- SC : --- --- 28,479 --- 40 --- TN : --- 394 51,687 8,410 --- --- TX : --- --- 108,682 40,911 --- 2,638 VA : --- --- 72,692 27,078 89 --- WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 704 140,881 1,848,640 1,018,239 38,056 200,722 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 13,592 29,691 55,975 15,365 264,828 724,266 AR : 11,381 31,209 53,166 9,325 94,031 648,652 CA : 873 7,583 2,680 --- 30,005 54,209 DE : 2,881 10,346 16,318 4,278 70,471 322,020 FL : 1,315 --- 7,477 --- --- 8,792 GA : 12,954 32,810 40,436 13,324 224,705 662,646 LA : 2,405 --- --- 87 --- 59,861 MD : 1,911 9,177 --- 1,641 26,326 184,135 MS : 6,751 25,377 28,448 2,713 175,909 455,549 MO : 2,528 9,680 21,514 --- 20,389 166,931 NC : 6,830 27,482 --- 6,832 193,782 529,378 PA : 1,895 4,534 --- 595 30,043 108,259 SC : 3,632 10,044 12,288 --- 77,306 131,789 TN : 3,153 7,427 12,891 3,213 26,116 113,291 TX : 1,588 11,368 14,991 2,646 --- 182,824 VA : 2,897 9,595 17,686 --- 123,947 253,984 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 82,320 261,756 447,814 74,844 1,611,079 5,725,055 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, May 1997-98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 15,743 14,644 76,626 75,622 4.87 5.16 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1997-98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 46,967 45,765 4,695 4,084 6.81 6.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, Selected States and United States, May 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- 12 --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 7,260 251,529 23,593 844 133,107 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : 631 12 --- --- --- 655 GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 25,332 29,558 141,527 7,096 49,208 669,054 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, May 1997-98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Average : Number : Live Weight : Live Weight State : Inspected : Inspected : Inspected 1/ :-----------------------:---------------------------:------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 ------ ---- 1,000 Pounds ---- --- Pounds --- : AR : 2,324 2,072 42,091 36,637 18.11 17.69 CA : 1,575 1,193 35,389 27,589 22.47 23.12 IA : 1,130 1,184 31,149 32,077 27.56 27.09 MN : 3,643 3,319 83,879 74,731 23.03 22.52 MO : 2,162 1,991 62,807 55,654 29.06 27.96 NC : 3,786 2,833 99,996 78,213 26.41 27.61 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 2,851 2,396 57,791 50,032 20.27 20.88 : US : 24,011 20,782 592,683 526,255 24.68 25.32 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, May 1997-98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : Post-Mortem Condemnations : Total :----------------------------------------- State : Certified 1/ : N.Y. Dressed Weight : Percent 2/ :-----------------------------:----------------------------------------- : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 : 1997 : 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------------ 1,000 Pounds ------------------ -- Percent -- : AR : 34,836 30,151 545 503 1.44 1.53 CA : 28,379 21,867 425 373 1.33 1.50 IA : 24,326 24,973 654 710 2.33 2.46 MN : 66,632 59,722 2,129 1,665 2.82 2.48 MO : 47,731 43,415 1,327 1,069 2.35 2.13 NC : 79,124 61,597 1,618 1,159 1.80 1.65 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 44,149 39,028 764 654 1.47 1.45 : US : 465,812 417,451 10,971 9,335 2.06 1.97 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 3,224 289 --- --- CA : --- --- 6,310 --- --- --- IA : --- --- --- 1,650 --- --- MN : --- --- 13,465 2,319 --- --- MO : --- --- 16,209 --- 188 --- NC : --- --- 4,472 --- --- --- PA : --- --- --- 687 --- --- VA : --- --- 3,180 183 --- --- : US : --- 218 84,098 10,702 7,164 73 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- 386 --- --- --- 3,899 CA : --- --- --- --- --- 6,310 IA : 54 --- 384 --- --- 2,088 MN : 141 1,150 1,272 --- 1,326 19,673 MO : 56 --- 363 --- 1,508 18,324 NC : --- 907 1,943 340 580 8,242 PA : --- --- --- --- 243 930 VA : --- 710 113 --- 884 5,070 : US : 783 5,945 7,474 1,766 10,513 128,736 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, May 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- --- 3,877 501 --- 25 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : 12 86 140 --- 1,214 5,855 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poultry Slaughter Estimates Data Sources: Primary data for commercial poultry slaughter estimates are obtained from the Poultry Inspection Form (FSIS 6000-21) completed by inspectors of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA. This form provides actual counts of birds slaughtered in Federally Inspected (FI) plants. Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for any species is under FI. The FSIS 6000-21 forms collect number of head slaughtered daily under FI by species and class as well as condemnations and total live and dressed weights. Approximately 350 plants in the U.S. are operated under Federal Inspection. Annual totals of poultry slaughtered under State-administered Non-Federal Inspection (NFI) are published in the April release. Revision Policy: Revisions are generally the result of late reports received by FSIS from plants and are usually less than one-half of 1 percent of the preliminary totals. Revisions for the previous month and year-to-date totals are published in each monthly release. Final data are published in the annual summary released in April and reflect any late reports or corrections which occurred after the monthly revision were published. Procedures and Reliability: Plant inspectors submit forms (FSIS 6000-21) weekly summarizing the plant's activity. When inconsistencies in the data are detected, the reports are returned to the inspectors for correction. Inspectors correct or validate the report and resubmit it. The reports cover weekly activities through Saturday night and reported data are allocated to the appropriate month as it enters the database. A NASS computer program provides a review of current data with historical data for each plant. An edit provides checks for the detection of errors such as invalid plant information, duplication, and erroneous data. The program also generates a missing reports listing for a telephone follow-up. Data are summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this release. Major slaughter plants with missing reports are adjusted prior to publication to assure that all plants slaughtering a significant portion of a specific class are accounted for each week. Estimates for missing weeks are made only after verifying that the plant was in operation. Adjustments are based on either the previous week's information or a week determined to be similar to the one missing. Late reports replace imputed data as they become available. While there will continue to be a varying degree of incompleteness from month to month, it is expected to have only a minimal impact on the final totals. Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and, therefore, have no sampling error. However, they may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Generally, no State data are published if less than three plants operate for a species in a State, or if one plant has 60 percent or more of the total head for that species. These data are included in the U.S. totals. Definitions Used To Report Federally Inspected Slaughter Ante-Mortem Condemnations - Birds condemned prior to their entry into the slaughter plant. Certified Ready-to-Cook - The weight of poultry certified wholesome by inspection after post-mortem condemnation pounds are removed. Ready-to-cook represents poultry meat ready for the marketing channel. Ducks - Includes all ducks regardless of age and weight. Fryer-Roaster Turkeys - Young immature birds, usually under 16 weeks of age. Mature Chickens - Fowl from breeder and market egg flocks and stags and cocks. New York Dressed Weight - Carcass weight after only feathers and blood are removed. This weight is approximately 90% of live weight. Old Turkeys (Breeders) - Fully matured birds held for egg production, usually over 15 months of age. Other Poultry - Includes all other ready-to-cook products which bear the U.S.D.A. Inspected for Wholesomeness legend. Post-Mortem Condemnations - Carcasses or parts condemned by the inspector because of disease or mishandling and removed from the slaughter line and destroyed. Young Chickens - Commercially grown broilers-fryers and other young immature birds such as roasters and capons. Young Turkeys (Mature) - Young birds grown to a matured market age, about 5 months. Index Page Definitions.............................................................. 16 Mature Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, U.S., May 1997-1998..................................................... 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998................................. 11 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., May 1997-1998..................................................... 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., May 1997-1998..................................................... 14 Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type, U.S., May 1997.......................................................... 4 Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, U.S., May 1997................................................. 6 Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, U.S., May 1997..................................... 2 Reliability Statement.................................................... 15 Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998................................. 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998................................. 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998................................. 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998.................... 12 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998................................. 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., May 1997-1998................................. 12 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on August 5, 1998. 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