News

Domestic poultry production down 1%

Poultry production during April 2020 was 4.086 billion pounds, 1% below April 2019. That was 8% lower than in March 2020 with production limited in some areas by COVID-19 infections.

Most of the monthly total was chicken at 3.634 billion pounds, slightly higher than a year ago, with turkeys 441.312 million pounds, a year to year decrease of 9%.

The chicken slaughter was 1% below a year ago at 758.84 million with steady to higher average live weights, with the turkey slaughter 7% lower at 17.088 million head and mostly lower average live weights.

Ante-mortem condemnations were 11.493 million pounds, 6% less than last year, representing 0.21% of the preliminary live weight. Post-mortem condemnations were 28.456 million pounds, a drop of 21%, representing 0.69% of monthly production.

The USDA’s cold storage numbers for April showed a record monthly supply of chicken against a tighter supply of turkey.