News

July poultry production down 3% on year

The USDA says poultry production for July 2020 was down 3% from July 2019 at 4.303 billion pounds. That is with a 3% decline in chicken to 3.790 billion pounds canceling out a 3% rise in turkey to 505.105 million. The chicken slaughter was also 3% lower at 795.412 million head with a steady average live weight of 6.33 pounds, while the turkey slaughter was 1% higher at 19.672 million head and the average live weight was up 2% to 32.20 pounds.

Ante-mortem condemnations of 13.544 million pounds were down 6% on the year, representing 0.24% of the preliminary live weight, and post-mortem condemnations of 28.571 million pounds were 12% lower, making up 0.66% of monthly production.

The USDA says the amount of poultry in cold storage at the end of July was 1.4 billion pounds.