Poultry Slaughter National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released January 6, 1999, 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 Up 7 Percent Poultry Certified Wholesome during November (ready-to-cook weight), totaled 2.69 billion pounds, up 7 percent from the amount certified in November 1997. Updated totals for October 1998 show that 3.02 billion pounds were certified. The preliminary total Live Weight of Poultry Inspected during November 1998 was 3.65 billion pounds. Inspections included 2.99 billion pounds of young chickens, 60.4 million pounds of mature chickens, 587 million pounds of turkeys, and 12.5 million pounds of ducks. Young chickens slaughtered during November 1998 averaged 4.99 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from last year. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.37 pounds per bird, 5 percent more than a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during November 1998 averaged 24.2 pounds per bird, up 3 percent from November 1997. Ante-mortem condemnations during November 1998 totaled 12.9 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.35 percent of the live weight inspected, compared with 0.33 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 62.5 million pounds (N.Y. dressed weight), were 1.90 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.84 percent a year earlier. November 1998 contained 21 weekdays (including two holidays) and four Saturdays, while November 1997 contained 20 weekdays (including two holidays) and five Saturdays. Pou 2-1 (1-99) Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, November 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature 2/ : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Oct 1998 : 686,139 13,834 699,972 2,055 ----- Nov 1997 : 564,133 11,894 576,027 1,555 ----- Nov 1998 : 598,230 11,240 609,471 1,903 ----- : Jan-Nov 1997 : 7,088,020 154,015 7,242,035 19,936 ----- Jan-Nov 1998 : 7,171,830 154,299 7,326,129 21,407 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Oct 1998 : 3,381,079 70,739 3,451,818 13,529 1,929 Nov 1997 : 2,748,232 61,070 2,809,302 10,409 1,004 Nov 1998 : 2,985,256 60,415 3,045,671 12,482 870 : Jan-Nov 1997 : 34,058,972 773,474 34,832,446 132,942 16,696 Jan-Nov 1998 : 34,741,044 789,794 35,530,838 140,908 13,661 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Oct 1998 : 4.93 5.11 4.93 6.58 ----- Nov 1997 : 4.87 5.13 4.88 6.69 ----- Nov 1998 : 4.99 5.37 5.00 6.56 ----- : Jan-Nov 1997 : 4.81 5.02 4.81 6.67 ----- Jan-Nov 1998 : 4.84 5.12 4.85 6.58 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight by Type, United States, November 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young 3/ : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head Number Inspected : : Oct 1998 : 1 24,585 194 24,779 ----- Nov 1997 : --- 24,385 138 24,523 ----- Nov 1998 : 2 24,161 100 24,264 ----- : Jan-Nov 1997 : 68 264,928 1,638 266,634 ----- Jan-Nov 1998 : 43 249,025 1,742 250,810 ----- : : 1,000 Pounds Live Weight : : Oct 1998 : 5 593,823 5,043 598,871 4,066,148 Nov 1997 : --- 574,354 3,787 578,140 3,398,856 Nov 1998 : 18 584,404 2,725 587,147 3,646,170 : Jan-Nov 1997 : 658 6,327,585 42,071 6,370,315 41,352,398 Jan-Nov 1998 : 380 6,128,209 45,521 6,174,110 41,859,517 : : Pounds Average Live Weight : : Oct 1998 : 10.15 24.15 25.97 24.17 ----- Nov 1997 : --- 23.55 27.35 23.58 ----- Nov 1998 : 7.41 24.19 27.31 24.20 ----- : Jan-Nov 1997 : 9.62 23.88 25.69 23.89 ----- Jan-Nov 1998 : 8.89 24.61 26.13 24.62 ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997: 4,731, November 1998: 4,751. 3/ Of the Young Turkeys inspected, the number reported in thousands as young breeders was: November 1997: 64, November 1998: 43. Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, November 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :---------------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Oct 1998 : Chilled : 2,266,875 39,906 2,306,781 3,410 503 Frozen : 226,530 5,018 231,549 6,280 656 : Total : 2,493,405 44,924 2,538,330 9,690 1,159 : Nov 1997 : Chilled : 1,825,960 35,999 1,861,959 2,625 352 Frozen : 199,540 1,912 201,452 4,788 217 : Total : 2,025,500 37,911 2,063,411 7,413 569 : Nov 1998 : Chilled : 1,978,865 35,364 2,014,229 3,626 241 Frozen : 205,191 1,606 206,797 5,101 270 : Total : 2,184,056 36,969 2,221,026 8,728 511 : : Jan-Nov 1997 : Chilled : 22,718,053 443,368 23,161,421 33,212 5,261 Frozen : 2,247,078 25,313 2,272,392 61,555 4,226 : Total : 24,965,131 468,682 25,433,813 94,767 9,487 : Jan-Nov 1998 : Chilled : 23,165,158 438,850 23,604,008 35,163 4,381 Frozen : 2,289,577 38,812 2,328,389 65,101 3,424 : Total : 25,454,735 477,662 25,932,397 100,264 7,805 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Chilled and Frozen, Pounds Certified by Type, United States, November 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :---------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Oct 1998 : Chilled : 4 212,903 2,392 215,299 2,525,993 Frozen : --- 256,839 1,493 258,332 496,817 : Total : 4 469,742 3,885 473,630 3,022,810 : Nov 1997 : Chilled : --- 239,205 1,332 240,537 2,105,472 Frozen : --- 211,416 1,554 212,970 419,428 : Total : --- 450,621 2,886 453,507 2,524,900 : Nov 1998 : Chilled : 14 246,846 1,535 248,395 2,266,491 Frozen : --- 210,243 554 210,797 422,965 : Total : 14 457,089 2,089 459,192 2,689,456 : : Jan-Nov 1997 : Chilled : 86 2,407,380 20,690 2,428,156 25,628,050 Frozen : 395 2,577,529 11,389 2,589,314 4,927,487 : Total : 482 4,984,910 32,079 5,017,470 30,555,538 : Jan-Nov 1998 : Chilled : 48 2,283,525 24,010 2,307,582 25,951,135 Frozen : 215 2,527,999 10,648 2,538,862 4,935,776 : Total : 263 4,811,524 34,658 4,846,445 30,886,911 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1998 with Comparisons 1/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Chickens : : Other :------------------------------------: Ducks : Poultry : Young : Mature : Total : : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Oct 1998 : 11,986 754 12,739 18 7 Nov 1997 : 9,169 844 10,013 11 2 Nov 1998 : 11,111 641 11,753 15 1 : Jan-Nov 1997 : 118,978 12,920 131,898 136 88 Jan-Nov 1998 : 149,229 14,263 163,492 165 52 : Percent 2/ : : Nov 1997 : 0.33 1.38 0.36 0.10 0.18 Nov 1998 : 0.37 1.06 0.39 0.12 0.13 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Oct 1998 : 50,517 4,277 54,794 292 29 Nov 1997 : 41,690 3,514 45,204 213 9 Nov 1998 : 47,965 3,604 51,570 298 12 : Jan-Nov 1997 : 524,337 47,848 572,185 2,658 167 Jan-Nov 1998 : 549,541 46,250 595,792 2,976 147 : Percent 3/ : : Nov 1997 : 1.69 6.39 1.79 2.28 0.96 Nov 1998 : 1.79 6.63 1.88 2.65 1.55 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See footnotes at end of table. -- continued Poultry Slaughter: Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Condemnations by Type, United States, November 1998 with Comparisons 1/ (continued) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Turkeys : :--------------------------------------------: Total : Fryer- : : : Total : Poultry : Roasters : Young : Old : Turkeys : :------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Ante-Mortem : (Live Weight) : : Oct 1998 : --- 1,237 29 1,266 14,031 Nov 1997 : --- 1,287 23 1,310 11,335 Nov 1998 : --- 1,085 15 1,100 12,869 : Jan-Nov 1997 : 2 18,640 291 18,932 151,053 Jan-Nov 1998 : 1 17,038 384 17,423 181,133 : Percent 2/ : : Nov 1997 : --- 0.22 0.60 0.23 0.33 Nov 1998 : --- 0.19 0.56 0.19 0.35 : : 1,000 Pounds Post-Mortem : (N.Y. Dressed Weight) : : Oct 1998 : --- 11,212 266 11,478 66,593 Nov 1997 : --- 10,585 156 10,741 56,167 Nov 1998 : --- 10,461 145 10,606 62,486 : Jan-Nov 1997 : 21 125,207 2,317 127,544 702,555 Jan-Nov 1998 : 8 120,366 2,774 123,147 722,062 : Percent 3/ : : Nov 1997 : --- 2.05 4.58 2.06 1.84 Nov 1998 : --- 1.99 5.89 2.01 1.90 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 : 65,612 68,876 317,741 348,470 4.84 5.06 AR : 87,066 87,337 419,941 424,332 4.82 4.86 CA : 15,330 18,841 81,547 98,042 5.32 5.20 DE : 20,108 21,165 109,909 118,733 5.47 5.61 FL : 10,764 10,082 50,443 54,030 4.69 5.36 GA : 82,650 82,408 412,666 415,560 4.99 5.04 LA : 11,551 12,138 56,139 54,087 4.86 4.46 MD : 15,506 15,953 74,404 75,449 4.80 4.73 MS : 51,040 53,520 241,638 265,866 4.73 4.97 MO : 25,632 27,074 111,215 119,358 4.34 4.41 NC : 40,194 48,217 222,873 278,119 5.54 5.77 PA : 7,979 7,967 41,904 40,889 5.25 5.13 SC : 14,461 16,080 68,104 76,017 4.71 4.73 TN : 10,971 14,466 52,029 71,026 4.74 4.91 TX : 37,352 40,534 173,500 192,431 4.65 4.75 VA : 25,005 26,751 119,861 129,778 4.79 4.85 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 564,133 598,230 2,748,232 2,985,256 4.87 4.99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 234,507 260,171 7,518 8,942 2.63 2.85 AR : 302,272 303,240 4,817 6,184 1.27 1.62 CA : 58,863 71,049 1,257 1,386 1.71 1.57 DE : 80,124 86,332 1,721 2,167 1.74 2.03 FL : 36,361 36,108 996 1,969 2.19 4.05 GA : 303,101 304,862 6,503 6,159 1.75 1.65 LA : 40,164 37,405 1,042 1,079 2.06 2.22 MD : 53,153 53,688 1,158 1,069 1.73 1.57 MS : 183,830 197,541 2,767 3,926 1.27 1.64 MO : 80,612 88,358 1,458 1,081 1.46 1.01 NC : 164,745 209,720 3,596 3,842 1.79 1.53 PA : 29,165 28,814 1,133 1,223 3.00 3.32 SC : 66,088 55,782 1,292 1,478 2.11 2.16 TN : 36,452 52,518 510 722 1.09 1.13 TX : 131,671 143,912 2,076 1,873 1.33 1.08 VA : 82,766 90,945 1,473 1,396 1.37 1.20 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 2,025,500 2,184,056 41,690 47,965 1.69 1.79 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Ready-to-cook weights. 2/ Pounds condemned as percent of equivalent N.Y. dressed weight of quantity inspected. Percentages based on unrounded data. Young Chickens Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, Selected States and United States, November 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : --- 1,309 180,460 141,996 2,356 13,927 AR : --- 3,549 269,445 109,793 6,420 6,101 CA : --- 4,614 111,423 7,131 891 3,032 DE : --- 4,254 98,970 54,824 109 --- FL : --- 406 --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- 130,313 223,463 1,762 14,491 LA : --- --- 32,719 31,560 --- 1,977 MD : --- 2,786 84,255 32,335 175 10,472 MS : --- --- 121,314 188,720 1,933 6,742 MO : --- 4,286 66,979 17,364 1,625 2,075 NC : --- 3,317 127,079 66,123 415 44,658 PA : --- 733 31,296 39,549 175 --- SC : --- 2,262 33,136 70,522 --- 4,244 TN : --- 408 43,690 14,773 --- --- TX : --- --- 116,742 43,160 659 3,055 VA : --- 1,883 69,738 32,782 --- --- WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 49,547 1,716,327 1,126,014 33,843 165,175 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AL : 12,127 33,656 65,531 8,931 203,822 664,115 AR : 10,281 33,361 39,887 4,330 90,860 574,027 CA : 488 5,335 2,278 384 23,895 159,471 DE : 2,362 9,204 16,911 9,226 58,735 254,595 FL : 1,466 1,848 5,680 --- --- 9,400 GA : 11,870 34,367 63,765 6,426 273,852 760,309 LA : 1,643 --- --- 581 25,761 94,241 MD : 1,835 9,959 --- --- 20,897 162,714 MS : 6,060 36,304 28,814 2,162 188,509 580,558 MO : 2,191 12,836 15,681 --- 30,420 153,457 NC : 6,178 42,974 54,517 7,195 76,071 428,527 PA : 1,692 2,242 --- 387 33,504 109,578 SC : 3,910 --- --- --- 57,577 171,651 TN : 2,558 6,155 --- 1,087 15,536 84,207 TX : 1,433 12,105 11,695 1,034 8,861 198,744 VA : 2,261 8,001 14,528 1,737 59,527 190,457 WA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 74,022 306,352 474,618 62,414 1,374,153 5,382,465 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 11,894 11,240 61,070 60,415 5.13 5.37 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Mature Chickens Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 37,911 36,969 3,514 3,604 6.39 6.63 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- --- --- --- --- --- GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : --- 4,430 243,927 13,462 738 102,794 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : CA : --- 41 --- --- --- 41 GA : --- --- --- --- --- --- : US : 18,461 30,883 144,815 1,456 38,192 599,158 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Number, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 2,195 2,345 38,415 42,593 17.50 18.16 CA : 2,304 2,455 51,707 58,162 22.45 23.69 IA : 1,164 1,275 30,907 35,238 26.56 27.64 MN : 3,619 3,620 80,398 85,648 22.21 23.66 MO : 2,264 1,778 55,745 49,005 24.62 27.56 NC : 3,283 3,175 80,604 68,580 24.55 21.60 PA : 1,008 1,188 21,483 25,929 21.32 21.83 VA : 2,938 3,164 54,539 66,803 18.57 21.12 : US : 24,385 24,161 574,354 584,404 23.55 24.19 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Average weight based on unrounded data. Young Turkeys (Mature) Slaughtered: Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and United States, November 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 : 31,173 33,739 454 602 1.31 1.57 CA : 40,265 46,094 667 646 1.43 1.23 IA : 24,068 28,040 627 741 2.25 2.34 MN : 65,076 67,114 2,316 2,090 3.20 2.71 MO : 42,539 38,999 1,183 940 2.36 2.13 NC : 62,733 54,600 1,304 940 1.80 1.52 PA : 17,049 19,873 535 379 2.77 1.62 VA : 40,489 50,742 789 855 1.61 1.42 : US : 450,621 457,089 10,585 10,461 2.05 1.99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- 5,949 --- --- --- CA : --- --- 9,443 286 --- 8 IA : --- --- 4,796 1,187 --- 5 MN : --- --- 15,734 2,296 1,129 --- MO : --- --- 14,254 --- --- --- NC : --- --- 5,133 --- --- --- PA : --- --- --- 495 --- 7 VA : --- --- 3,987 222 --- --- : US : --- 271 86,284 10,691 5,761 100 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : AR : --- --- --- --- --- 5,949 CA : --- 696 450 --- 505 11,388 IA : 44 --- --- --- --- 6,032 MN : 182 1,174 1,507 --- 1,496 23,518 MO : 115 290 --- --- --- 14,659 NC : --- --- --- 192 721 6,046 PA : 114 --- --- --- 559 1,175 VA : 20 --- 209 --- 1,344 5,782 : US : 979 10,015 9,918 1,907 12,113 138,039 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Turkeys (Breeders) Slaughtered: Number Condemned Post-Mortem by Cause, United States, November 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Tuber- : : : Airsac- : : State : culosis : Leukosis : Septicemia : culitis : Synovitis : Tumors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- --- 3,198 248 --- 49 :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Contam- : : : : Bruises : Cadaver : ination : Overscald : Other : Total :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : US : --- 70 80 --- 581 4,226 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1997-1998................................................ 11 Mature Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., November 1997-1998............................ 11 Mature Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, U.S., November 1997-1998................................................ 11 Old Turkeys (Breeders) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, U.S., November 1997-1998................................................ 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 1997-1998............................ 8 Young Chickens Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., November 1997-1998............................ 10 Young Chickens Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., November 1997-1998............................ 9 Young Turkeys (Mature) Number Inspected, Live Weight, and Average Live Weight, Selected States and U.S., November 1997-1998............... 12 Young Turkeys (Mature) Post-Mortem Condemnations by Cause, Selected States and U.S., November 1997-1998............................ 13 Young Turkeys (Mature) Pounds Certified and Post-Mortem Condemnations, Selected States and U.S., November 1997-1998............................ 12 The next "Poultry Slaughter" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on February 2, 1999. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: http://www.usda.gov/nass/. Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. Send an e-mail message to: usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu. In the body of the message type the word: list. AUTOFAX ACCESS NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine. Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax. Respond to the voice prompts. 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.