Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released December 3, 1998, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Poultry Slaughter" call John Lange (202) 720-0585 or Mike Barker (202)720-3243, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Ready-to-Cook Weight Down 2 Percent Poultry Certified Wholesome during October (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 3.00 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the amount certified in October 1997. Updated totals for September 1998 show that 2.80 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during October 1998 was 4.04 billion pounds. Inspections included 3.36 billion pounds of young chickens, 70.1 million pounds of mature chickens, 599 million pounds of turkeys, and 13.0 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during October 1998 averaged 4.92 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from last year. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.11 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during October 1998 averaged 24.1 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from October 1997. Ante-mortem condemnations during October 1998 totaled 14.0 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.35 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.32 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 66.2 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.82 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.83 percent a year earlier. October 1998 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and five Saturdays. October 1997 had 23 weekdays (including one holiday) and four Saturdays. Pou 2-1 (12-98) Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, October 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Sep 1998 : 654,970 13,378 668,348 2,051 ----- Oct 1997 : 703,034 14,523 717,557 2,114 ----- Oct 1998 : 682,591 13,719 696,310 1,980 ----- : Jan-Oct 1997 : 6,523,887 142,121 6,666,008 18,381 ----- Jan-Oct 1998 : 6,569,312 142,821 6,712,133 19,429 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Sep 1998 : 3,169,161 69,201 3,238,362 13,557 1,951 Oct 1997 : 3,400,499 74,788 3,475,288 14,183 2,786 Oct 1998 : 3,357,385 70,073 3,427,458 13,020 1,916 : Jan-Oct 1997 : 31,310,740 712,403 32,023,144 122,533 15,692 Jan-Oct 1998 : 31,726,740 727,566 32,454,306 127,917 12,772 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Sep 1998 : 4.84 5.17 4.85 6.61 ----- Oct 1997 : 4.84 5.15 4.84 6.71 ----- Oct 1998 : 4.92 5.11 4.92 6.57 ----- : Jan-Oct 1997 : 4.80 5.01 4.80 6.67 ----- Jan-Oct 1998 : 4.83 5.09 4.84 6.58 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, October 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Sep 1998 : --- 22,872 213 23,086 ----- Oct 1997 : 2 27,265 185 27,453 ----- Oct 1998 : 1 24,690 191 24,881 ----- : Jan-Oct 1997 : 68 240,543 1,499 242,110 ----- Jan-Oct 1998 : 40 225,073 1,639 226,753 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Sep 1998 : --- 544,122 5,342 549,463 3,803,334 Oct 1997 : 19 651,705 4,599 656,323 4,148,579 Oct 1998 : 5 593,908 4,960 598,874 4,041,269 : Jan-Oct 1997 : 658 5,753,232 38,284 5,792,175 37,953,543 Jan-Oct 1998 : 362 5,544,422 42,714 5,587,497 38,182,492 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Sep 1998 : --- 23.79 25.05 23.80 ----- Oct 1997 : 7.74 23.90 24.83 23.91 ----- Oct 1998 : 10.15 24.06 26.02 24.07 ----- : Jan-Oct 1997 : 9.62 23.92 25.54 23.92 ----- Jan-Oct 1998 : 8.98 24.63 26.06 24.64 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: October 1997: 5,867, October 1998: 6,206. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: October 1997: 72, October 1998: 34. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, October 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Sep 1998 : Chilled : 2,107,140 38,751 2,145,891 3,341 473 Frozen : 209,658 2,942 212,600 6,083 660 : Total : 2,316,798 41,693 2,358,491 9,425 1,133 : Oct 1997 : Chilled : 2,268,648 42,233 2,310,881 3,246 688 Frozen : 231,376 3,698 235,075 6,799 955 : Total : 2,500,024 45,932 2,545,956 10,045 1,643 : Oct 1998 : Chilled : 2,251,696 39,507 2,291,202 3,410 496 Frozen : 221,858 5,030 226,888 5,880 656 : Total : 2,473,554 44,537 2,518,091 9,291 1,153 : : Jan-Oct 1997 : Chilled : 20,892,093 407,369 21,299,462 30,587 4,909 Frozen : 2,047,538 23,401 2,070,940 56,767 4,008 : Total : 22,939,631 430,771 23,370,402 87,355 8,918 : Jan-Oct 1998 : Chilled : 21,170,755 402,625 21,573,380 31,537 4,129 Frozen : 2,075,673 37,218 2,112,890 59,600 3,154 : Total : 23,246,428 439,843 23,686,271 91,137 7,284 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, October 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Sep 1998 : Chilled : --- 192,697 2,712 195,409 2,345,115 Frozen : --- 232,939 1,463 234,402 453,745 : Total : --- 425,636 4,174 429,811 2,798,859 : Oct 1997 : Chilled : 13 245,557 2,078 247,648 2,562,463 Frozen : --- 264,451 1,574 266,025 508,853 : Total : 13 510,008 3,652 513,673 3,071,316 : Oct 1998 : Chilled : 4 210,714 2,326 213,044 2,508,153 Frozen : --- 259,217 1,493 260,710 494,135 : Total : 4 469,932 3,819 473,754 3,002,288 : : Jan-Oct 1997 : Chilled : 86 2,168,175 19,358 2,187,619 23,522,578 Frozen : 395 2,366,114 9,835 2,376,344 4,508,059 : Total : 482 4,534,289 29,193 4,563,963 28,030,638 : Jan-Oct 1998 : Chilled : 34 2,034,501 22,409 2,056,944 23,665,990 Frozen : 215 2,320,519 10,094 2,330,827 4,506,472 : Total : 249 4,355,019 32,503 4,387,771 28,172,463 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. Totals may not add due to rounding. Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, October 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Sep 1998 : 15,158 1,225 16,383 20 6 Oct 1997 : 10,833 919 11,752 17 31 Oct 1998 : 11,949 743 12,692 18 7 : Jan-Oct 1997 : 109,809 12,075 121,884 125 86 Jan-Oct 1998 : 138,084 13,593 151,677 151 51 : Percent 2/ : : Oct 1997 : 0.32 1.23 0.34 0.12 1.10 Oct 1998 : 0.36 1.06 0.37 0.14 0.39 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Sep 1998 : 48,668 4,267 52,935 285 15 Oct 1997 : 51,041 4,341 55,382 278 33 Oct 1998 : 50,227 4,242 54,469 286 29 : Jan-Oct 1997 : 482,647 44,334 526,981 2,445 158 Jan-Oct 1998 : 501,252 42,635 543,887 2,673 134 : Percent 3/ : : Oct 1997 : 1.67 6.45 1.77 2.18 1.30 Oct 1998 : 1.66 6.73 1.77 2.44 1.71 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, October 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Sep 1998 : --- 1,638 40 1,679 18,087 Oct 1997 : --- 1,303 17 1,320 13,119 Oct 1998 : --- 1,229 28 1,257 13,974 : Jan-Oct 1997 : 2 17,353 268 17,622 139,718 Jan-Oct 1998 : 1 15,947 368 16,316 168,194 : Percent 2/ : : Oct 1997 : 1.55 0.20 0.36 0.20 0.32 Oct 1998 : 0.74 0.21 0.56 0.21 0.35 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Sep 1998 : --- 11,056 225 11,281 64,515 Oct 1997 : 1 12,297 190 12,489 68,182 Oct 1998 : --- 11,162 265 11,427 66,211 : Jan-Oct 1997 : 21 114,622 2,161 116,803 646,388 Jan-Oct 1998 : 7 109,858 2,628 112,494 659,188 : Percent 3/ : : Oct 1997 : 8.81 2.10 4.60 2.11 1.83 Oct 1998 : 8.67 2.09 5.93 2.12 1.82 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, October 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 : 81,402 75,231 391,479 377,140 4.81 5.01 AR : 105,954 97,848 510,065 469,935 4.81 4.80 CA : 19,889 20,718 97,949 108,191 4.92 5.22 DE : 25,070 24,019 142,122 134,066 5.67 5.58 FL : 12,801 10,965 59,517 58,214 4.65 5.31 GA : 103,460 97,384 509,507 478,842 4.92 4.92 LA : 14,889 14,309 68,617 63,074 4.61 4.41 MD : 19,035 18,624 93,382 88,032 4.91 4.73 MS : 59,867 58,868 277,821 287,773 4.64 4.89 MO : 30,436 30,643 130,608 133,926 4.29 4.37 NC : 55,076 57,300 301,107 322,673 5.47 5.63 PA : 9,826 9,290 51,858 48,576 5.28 5.23 SC : 21,223 19,206 95,892 88,765 4.52 4.62 TN : 15,612 16,406 71,029 77,516 4.55 4.72 TX : 45,097 45,336 208,200 209,628 4.62 4.62 VA : 32,858 30,981 157,562 148,461 4.80 4.79 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 703,034 682,591 3,400,499 3,357,385 4.84 4.92 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, October 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 : 288,860 284,078 8,579 6,837 2.43 2.01 AR : 368,634 343,086 5,586 5,676 1.22 1.34 CA : 71,362 79,346 2,107 1,487 2.39 1.53 DE : 102,210 97,878 1,939 2,057 1.52 1.70 FL : 46,163 41,949 1,589 1,316 2.97 2.51 GA : 380,883 351,837 6,556 7,301 1.43 1.69 LA : 48,574 43,913 1,296 1,327 2.10 2.34 MD : 65,859 63,118 1,229 1,076 1.46 1.36 MS : 212,413 217,377 3,010 3,951 1.20 1.53 MO : 94,964 98,132 1,420 1,268 1.21 1.05 NC : 225,962 243,289 4,425 5,156 1.63 1.78 PA : 36,062 33,745 1,218 1,629 2.61 3.73 SC : 69,252 65,230 1,850 1,857 2.14 2.32 TN : 51,519 55,995 723 885 1.13 1.27 TX : 158,431 161,049 2,765 2,148 1.48 1.14 VA : 109,690 103,874 3,690 1,529 2.60 1.14 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 2,500,024 2,473,554 51,041 50,227 1.67 1.66 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, October 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 1,956 199,599 130,618 2,950 14,305 AR : --- 3,379 281,224 83,666 10,457 5,795 CA : --- 6,862 104,455 4,825 1,166 3,198 DE : --- --- 95,856 36,614 --- --- FL : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- 2,570 155,500 235,490 1,631 13,467 LA : --- 252 40,278 36,219 266 2,067 MD : --- 4,075 82,578 22,746 84 12,570 MS : --- --- 127,379 130,672 1,957 8,516 MO : --- 4,532 62,257 18,173 1,795 1,956 NC : --- 3,997 155,943 65,252 395 66,226 PA : --- --- 28,450 18,658 194 --- SC : --- 1,546 41,358 57,493 44 --- TN : --- 847 56,359 14,047 --- --- TX : --- --- 113,555 36,694 813 2,996 VA : --- 1,734 76,572 34,331 67 --- WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 47,297 1,851,479 1,006,963 43,729 206,661 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 13,787 40,336 68,623 12,851 235,122 720,147 AR : 11,875 31,254 47,501 4,997 96,524 576,672 CA : 732 6,215 2,462 265 25,708 155,888 DE : 2,420 13,489 16,950 --- 46,823 212,152 FL : 2,092 2,245 7,614 --- --- 11,951 GA : 13,770 38,602 72,312 17,664 333,661 884,667 LA : 2,291 --- --- --- 23,911 105,284 MD : --- 12,415 --- 1,206 27,662 163,336 MS : 7,429 48,941 31,398 1,054 187,284 544,630 MO : 2,536 12,012 18,255 1,666 33,804 156,986 NC : 10,330 42,311 73,004 7,786 158,377 583,621 PA : 2,282 2,834 --- --- 33,813 86,231 SC : 4,571 --- --- --- --- 105,012 TN : 3,091 7,596 --- 2,708 21,476 106,124 TX : 1,643 13,906 13,632 1,714 8,227 193,180 VA : 3,107 10,587 18,005 2,705 56,551 203,659 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 484,442 343,415 538,676 88,219 1,824,040 6,434,921 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, October 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 : 14,523 13,719 74,788 70,073 5.15 5.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, October 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 : 45,932 44,537 4,341 4,242 6.45 6.73 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, October 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 6,285 270,431 20,141 770 124,330 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 30,509 30,833 171,215 1,136 46,987 702,637 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, October 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 : 2,480 2,177 44,470 39,158 17.93 17.99 CA : 2,127 2,004 50,699 46,831 23.84 23.37 IA : 1,458 1,401 37,813 35,792 25.93 25.55 MN : 4,584 4,198 101,066 93,973 22.05 22.39 MO : 2,387 1,966 63,111 53,160 26.44 27.04 NC : 3,413 2,886 84,478 64,520 24.75 22.35 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 3,447 3,340 67,834 71,762 19.68 21.48 : US : 27,265 24,690 651,705 593,908 23.90 24.06 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, October 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 : 36,391 32,094 609 604 1.52 1.71 CA : 38,303 37,608 710 689 1.56 1.64 IA : 29,368 28,007 688 754 2.02 2.34 MN : 79,755 74,749 2,656 2,070 2.92 2.45 MO : 49,148 43,829 1,283 1,093 2.26 2.29 NC : 66,429 51,178 1,391 1,155 1.83 1.99 PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : 51,978 56,099 960 934 1.57 1.45 : US : 510,008 469,932 12,297 11,162 2.10 2.09 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, October 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 5,845 --- --- --- CA : --- --- 9,740 398 --- --- IA : --- --- 4,745 1,493 --- --- MN : --- --- 17,366 1,908 --- --- MO : --- --- 21,046 --- --- --- NC : --- --- 7,986 --- --- --- PA : --- --- --- --- --- --- VA : --- --- 4,698 278 --- --- : US : --- 79 106,325 17,509 5,846 124 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- --- --- --- 5,845 CA : 11 945 437 131 --- 11,662 IA : --- --- 396 --- --- 6,634 MN : 208 1,292 1,477 --- 1,439 23,690 MO : --- 398 --- --- 2,205 23,649 NC : 115 --- --- 307 874 9,282 PA : 79 --- --- --- 330 409 VA : --- --- 189 --- 1,617 6,782 : US : 1,054 12,514 8,396 2,258 13,619 167,724 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, October 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- --- 2,946 776 --- 62 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : 35 186 144 19 1,688 5,856 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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., October 1997-1998.................................................. 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998.............................. 11 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., October 1997-1998.................................................. 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., October 1997-1998.................................................. 14 Poultry Chilled and Frozen Pounds Certified (RTC) by Type, U.S., October 1997....................................................... 4 Poultry Slaughter Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, U.S., October 1997.............................................. 6 Poultry Slaughter Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, U.S., October 1997.................................. 2 Reliability Statement..................................................... 15 Young Chickens Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998.............................. 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998.............................. 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998.............................. 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998................. 12 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998.............................. 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., October 1997-1998.............................. 12 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on January 6, 1999. 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