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  Poultry Slaughter

 

PURPOSE

The Poultry Slaughter survey provides the number of chickens (young and mature), ducks, turkeys, and other poultry slaughtered under federal inspection in the U.S.


COVERAGE

Poultry slaughter data are collected for the entire U.S. from approximately 320 plants inspected by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Over 99 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for all species is under federal inspection.


CONTENT

The Poultry Slaughter survey obtains the number of head slaughtered, total pounds of live and dressed weights, average liveweight, and total pounds of condemned meat by species.


FREQUENCY

Federally inspected data are summarized monthly immediately before the release. An annual summary is compiled in April.


METHODS

The FSIS plant inspectors key inspection data using laptop computers and upload the data to a central location. FSIS electronically passes the inspection data to NASS. Data include the number of head slaughtered weekly under federal inspection by species and class, condemnations, and total live and dressed weights. The reports cover weekly activities through Saturday night with weekly reports allocated to the appropriate month. NASS runs all data through a computer edit to check for errors. Estimates are made for missing reports.

Poultry slaughter estimates are based on a census of slaughter Plants, therefore, there is no sampling error associated with the report. However, some reporting errors or omission of data may occur with minimal effect because of the quality checks involved in creating this report.


PRODUCTS

The Poultry Slaughter report is released on the last day of each month. The annual summary is released on the last day in February. Each monthly report contains estimates for the previous month and revisions for one month earlier. Preliminary weekly totals are published by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service on their website at www.ams.usda.gov/
Poultry/. After entering the site go to market news; report summaries; weekly slaughter report.


USES

Poultry slaughter estimates provide USDA and the poultry industry with basic data to measure the flow of meat to the market, to analyze trends, and to project producer prices. Agricultural economists in both the public and private sectors use this information in economic analysis and research.


SPECIAL FEATURES


RELATED PROGRAMS

Broiler Hatchery
Chickens and Eggs
Turkey Hatchery
Turkeys Raised
Poultry Production, Disposition, and Value

 

 


Last modified: 06/03/09