News

April poultry production down 4% on year

U.S. poultry production during April was 3.700 billion pounds, down 4% on the year. The total live weight was 4.885 billion pounds, also 4% lower.

The USDA says the monthly chicken slaughter and total live weight were both 3% lower at 700.247 million head and 4.326 billion pounds, respectively, and the turkey kill and total live weight both dropped 10% to 17.360 million head and 544.398 million head, respectively. The average live weight of all chickens was 6.18 pounds per bird, fractionally lower, and all turkeys averaged 31.36 pounds per bird, 1% heavier.

For the year to date, U.S. poultry production is 15.584 billion pounds, up 1% from this time last year.