Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released September 4, 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 Unchanged Poultry Certified Wholesome during July (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 2.86 billion pounds, up slightly from the amount certified in July 1997. Updated totals for June 1998 show that 2.85 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during July 1998 was 3.87 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.20 billion pounds of young chickens, 76.3 million pounds of mature chickens, 584 million pounds of turkeys, and 12.8 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during July 1998 averaged 4.68 pounds per bird, unchanged from last year. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.11 pounds per bird, down one percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during July 1998 averaged 24.0 pounds per bird, up two percent from July 1997. Ante-mortem condemnations during July 1998 totaled 22.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.58 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.44 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 66.5 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.91 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.89 percent a year earlier. July 1998 contained 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays, the same as July 1997. Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, July 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Jun 1998 : 665,375 14,917 680,291 1,924 ----- Jul 1997 : 670,043 14,166 684,210 1,910 ----- Jul 1998 : 683,418 14,937 698,356 1,987 ----- : Jan-Jul 1997 : 4,517,372 102,533 4,619,906 12,531 ----- Jan-Jul 1998 : 4,573,868 101,491 4,675,360 13,304 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Jun 1998 : 3,174,923 76,918 3,251,842 12,669 1,068 Jul 1997 : 3,135,406 73,294 3,208,700 12,347 1,558 Jul 1998 : 3,199,289 76,336 3,275,625 12,829 1,070 : Jan-Jul 1997 : 21,727,195 506,528 22,233,723 83,712 8,500 Jan-Jul 1998 : 22,077,049 514,849 22,591,898 87,975 7,415 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Jun 1998 : 4.77 5.16 4.78 6.58 ----- Jul 1997 : 4.68 5.17 4.69 6.46 ----- Jul 1998 : 4.68 5.11 4.69 6.46 ----- : Jan-Jul 1997 : 4.81 4.94 4.81 6.68 ----- Jan-Jul 1998 : 4.83 5.07 4.83 6.61 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, July 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Jun 1998 : --- 23,186 193 23,379 ----- Jul 1997 : --- 26,439 166 26,605 ----- Jul 1998 : --- 24,160 168 24,328 ----- : Jan-Jul 1997 : 66 163,470 878 164,414 ----- Jan-Jul 1998 : --- 155,265 1,077 156,342 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Jun 1998 : --- 575,209 4,890 580,099 3,845,678 Jul 1997 : --- 619,000 3,991 622,990 3,845,596 Jul 1998 : --- 579,295 4,251 583,547 3,873,070 : Jan-Jul 1997 : 640 3,946,282 22,967 3,969,889 26,295,823 Jan-Jul 1998 : --- 3,870,946 28,372 3,899,318 26,586,606 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Jun 1998 : --- 24.81 25.33 24.81 ----- Jul 1997 : --- 23.41 24.05 23.42 ----- Jul 1998 : --- 23.98 25.24 23.99 ----- : Jan-Jul 1997 : 9.69 24.14 26.17 24.15 ----- Jan-Jul 1998 : --- 24.93 26.35 24.94 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: July 1997: 5,416, July 1998: 5,643. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: July 1997: 151, July 1998: 211. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, July 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Jun 1998 : Chilled : 2,132,449 42,605 2,175,054 3,136 408 Frozen : 202,878 4,143 207,021 5,991 190 : Total : 2,335,327 46,748 2,382,075 9,128 598 : Jul 1997 : Chilled : 2,088,975 42,211 2,131,186 2,931 510 Frozen : 218,295 2,798 221,093 5,864 379 : Total : 2,307,270 45,008 2,352,278 8,795 888 : Jul 1998 : Chilled : 2,145,303 41,638 2,186,940 3,009 377 Frozen : 198,480 3,945 202,425 6,202 243 : Total : 2,343,783 45,583 2,389,365 9,211 619 : : Jan-Jul 1997 : Chilled : 14,475,053 291,603 14,766,656 21,512 2,863 Frozen : 1,408,176 14,616 1,422,791 38,267 1,816 : Total : 15,883,229 306,218 16,189,447 59,779 4,679 : Jan-Jul 1998 : Chilled : 14,728,957 284,139 15,013,096 21,574 2,705 Frozen : 1,437,132 25,844 1,462,977 41,208 1,437 : Total : 16,166,089 309,984 16,476,073 62,781 4,142 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, July 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Jun 1998 : Chilled : --- 208,410 2,930 211,340 2,389,938 Frozen : --- 245,806 784 246,590 459,793 : Total : --- 454,216 3,713 457,930 2,849,731 : Jul 1997 : Chilled : --- 227,254 1,880 229,134 2,363,760 Frozen : --- 261,501 1,129 262,630 489,966 : Total : --- 488,755 3,008 491,763 2,853,725 : Jul 1998 : Chilled : --- 204,583 2,596 207,179 2,397,505 Frozen : --- 251,201 687 251,887 460,756 : Total : --- 455,783 3,283 459,066 2,858,262 : : Jan-Jul 1997 : Chilled : 73 1,505,310 13,045 1,518,428 16,309,459 Frozen : 395 1,608,304 4,327 1,613,026 3,075,900 : Total : 469 3,113,614 17,372 3,131,455 19,385,360 : Jan-Jul 1998 : Chilled : --- 1,441,355 15,132 1,456,487 16,493,862 Frozen : --- 1,607,784 6,317 1,614,101 3,119,723 : Total : --- 3,049,139 21,449 3,070,588 19,613,584 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. Totals may not add due to rounding. Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, July 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Jun 1998 : 15,544 1,871 17,415 17 7 Jul 1997 : 13,064 1,886 14,949 12 9 Jul 1998 : 18,106 2,028 20,134 19 3 : Jan-Jul 1997 : 75,899 8,920 84,819 75 41 Jan-Jul 1998 : 93,899 9,500 103,400 94 31 : Percent 2/ : : Jul 1997 : 0.42 2.57 0.47 0.10 0.60 Jul 1998 : 0.57 2.66 0.61 0.15 0.28 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Jun 1998 : 47,225 4,082 51,306 292 13 Jul 1997 : 48,233 4,330 52,563 279 17 Jul 1998 : 50,568 4,465 55,033 244 12 : Jan-Jul 1997 : 340,192 31,131 371,324 1,737 82 Jan-Jul 1998 : 351,864 29,790 381,654 1,829 72 : Percent 3/ : : Jul 1997 : 1.71 6.56 1.82 2.51 1.18 Jul 1998 : 1.76 6.50 1.87 2.11 1.22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, July 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Jun 1998 : --- 1,702 45 1,748 19,187 Jul 1997 : --- 2,003 39 2,041 17,012 Jul 1998 : --- 2,123 38 2,161 22,317 : Jan-Jul 1997 : 1 13,078 206 13,285 98,220 Jan-Jul 1998 : --- 11,247 228 11,475 115,000 : Percent 2/ : : Jul 1997 : --- 0.32 0.97 0.33 0.44 Jul 1998 : --- 0.37 0.89 0.37 0.58 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Jun 1998 : --- 10,515 308 10,823 62,433 Jul 1997 : --- 12,284 254 12,538 65,396 Jul 1998 : --- 11,039 221 11,259 66,548 : Jan-Jul 1997 : 19 79,334 1,415 80,769 453,912 Jan-Jul 1998 : --- 76,745 1,910 78,654 462,209 : Percent 3/ : : Jul 1997 : --- 2.20 7.08 2.24 1.89 Jul 1998 : --- 2.12 5.77 2.14 1.91 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, July 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 : 77,275 73,698 353,962 353,749 4.58 4.80 AR : 96,335 100,487 450,860 453,424 4.68 4.51 CA : 20,145 21,755 103,457 107,864 5.14 4.96 DE : 23,689 23,809 127,117 128,198 5.37 5.38 FL : 11,801 11,227 51,259 53,492 4.34 4.76 GA : 97,319 100,657 469,835 476,602 4.83 4.73 LA : 12,171 14,466 52,996 63,580 4.35 4.40 MD : 17,954 18,215 83,623 85,226 4.66 4.68 MS : 62,310 59,517 281,823 274,392 4.52 4.61 MO : 30,232 32,508 127,746 136,859 4.23 4.21 NC : 54,525 54,055 288,784 282,999 5.30 5.24 PA : 10,221 9,735 48,478 48,964 4.74 5.03 SC : 18,524 18,395 80,838 83,985 4.36 4.57 TN : 15,786 16,644 68,367 77,395 4.33 4.65 TX : 41,675 42,955 186,649 180,775 4.48 4.21 VA : 32,214 32,213 146,584 149,643 4.55 4.65 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 670,043 683,418 3,135,406 3,199,289 4.68 4.68 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, July 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 : 262,998 259,815 7,349 7,328 2.31 2.30 AR : 322,596 326,277 6,381 6,418 1.57 1.57 CA : 76,413 78,352 1,805 1,677 1.94 1.73 DE : 93,343 92,961 2,045 2,353 1.79 2.04 FL : 36,969 38,868 941 1,094 2.04 2.27 GA : 349,346 355,984 6,418 6,999 1.52 1.63 LA : 39,912 44,520 1,077 1,451 2.26 2.54 MD : 60,297 61,033 1,186 1,110 1.58 1.45 MS : 215,247 207,821 3,742 3,715 1.48 1.50 MO : 92,430 100,066 1,766 1,576 1.54 1.28 NC : 210,653 211,845 4,747 4,779 1.83 1.88 PA : 33,759 33,970 1,186 1,509 2.72 3.43 SC : 59,534 61,220 1,400 1,528 1.92 2.02 TN : 49,473 56,959 776 908 1.26 1.30 TX : 142,856 137,645 2,580 2,115 1.54 1.30 VA : 103,673 103,040 1,621 1,880 1.23 1.40 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 2,307,270 2,343,783 48,233 50,568 1.71 1.76 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, July 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 1,626 224,781 200,215 4,895 11,932 AR : --- --- 354,059 111,713 26,989 6,268 CA : --- --- 110,043 19,360 2,650 4,604 DE : --- 7,902 110,225 47,736 99 --- FL : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- 4,307 174,064 192,983 3,499 13,429 LA : --- --- 67,916 48,395 1,089 1,545 MD : --- 7,647 77,730 21,075 --- 9,295 MS : --- --- 141,267 87,279 3,221 7,400 MO : --- 3,331 77,076 24,691 2,911 2,266 NC : --- 4,102 142,756 69,151 151 --- PA : --- 1,913 33,485 21,307 348 --- SC : --- 1,043 30,154 --- 243 3,513 TN : --- 431 58,885 9,632 --- --- TX : --- --- 109,750 33,125 1,064 2,768 VA : --- --- 80,101 62,597 105 --- WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 78,620 2,033,464 1,094,500 69,071 186,476 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 17,489 42,254 76,566 16,468 275,850 872,076 AR : 16,217 41,583 71,871 5,796 130,042 764,538 CA : --- 8,230 3,848 --- 33,138 181,873 DE : 3,287 14,048 23,689 --- 66,772 273,758 FL : 2,048 4,157 9,405 --- --- 15,610 GA : 17,228 39,867 54,833 15,188 308,011 823,409 LA : 3,330 --- 14,731 --- 62,535 199,541 MD : 2,727 14,095 --- 2,051 29,506 164,126 MS : 9,352 35,783 35,989 4,087 182,114 506,492 MO : 3,794 15,042 23,725 --- 49,602 202,438 NC : 8,244 30,389 --- 9,171 189,992 453,956 PA : 3,507 3,629 --- 569 44,793 109,551 SC : 4,758 16,519 18,168 8,081 75,483 157,962 TN : 3,926 8,757 --- 1,418 22,871 105,920 TX : 2,205 15,976 14,314 989 --- 180,191 VA : 3,716 10,706 20,286 5,518 98,514 281,543 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 109,681 352,185 600,214 90,620 1,946,950 6,561,781 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, July 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 : 14,166 14,937 73,294 76,336 5.17 5.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, July 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 : 45,008 45,583 4,330 4,465 6.56 6.50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, July 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 6,707 278,585 23,519 579 129,805 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- 15 --- --- --- 15 GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 31,794 38,377 171,764 1,690 63,020 745,840 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, July 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 : 2,276 2,264 38,412 39,041 16.88 17.25 CA : 1,878 1,503 41,836 34,225 22.28 22.77 IA : 1,336 1,328 34,654 35,751 25.94 26.92 MN : 4,429 4,060 95,441 91,872 21.55 22.63 MO : 2,230 2,053 60,383 54,507 27.07 26.56 NC : 3,807 3,590 92,824 88,747 24.38 24.72 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 26,439 24,160 619,000 579,295 23.41 23.98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, July 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 : 32,209 31,978 497 708 1.44 2.01 CA : 33,165 28,077 553 517 1.47 1.68 IA : 27,356 28,036 803 807 2.57 2.51 MN : 75,171 71,983 3,099 2,169 3.61 2.62 MO : 46,954 42,026 1,171 1,041 2.15 2.12 NC : 72,519 70,702 1,493 1,503 1.79 1.88 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 488,755 455,783 12,284 11,039 2.20 2.12 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, July 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 3,865 450 --- --- CA : --- --- 8,151 --- --- 41 IA : --- --- --- 1,619 --- 19 MN : --- 58 13,737 2,108 1,242 --- MO : --- --- 15,904 --- --- 4 NC : --- --- 5,940 --- --- --- PA : --- --- 5,992 760 --- --- VA : --- --- 3,895 336 --- --- : US : --- 158 89,526 15,182 5,715 304 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- --- --- --- 4,315 CA : --- --- 231 --- 207 8,630 IA : 84 --- --- --- --- 1,722 MN : 206 1,481 1,179 --- 1,574 21,585 MO : --- --- 434 --- 1,827 18,169 NC : --- 1,850 --- 396 977 9,163 PA : 85 --- --- --- 249 7,086 VA : 15 --- --- --- 1,436 5,682 : US : 865 9,599 10,291 3,885 15,117 150,642 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, July 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- --- 3,110 566 --- 33 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : 21 119 111 --- 438 4,398 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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., July 1997-1998.................................................... 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................................ 11 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., July 1997-1998.................................................... 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., July 1997-1998.................................................... 14 Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type, U.S., July 1997......................................................... 4 Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, U.S., July 1997................................................ 6 Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, U.S., July 1997.................................... 2 Reliability Statement.................................................... 15 Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................................ 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................................. 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................................ 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................... 12 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................................ 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., July 1997-1998................................ 12 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3:00 p.m. ET on October 2, 1998. 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