Here is some significant information regarding MONTHLY cost of condemnations ("condems") to the US poultry industry.

Ante-mortem "condems" in June 2007 were 17.3 million pounds, and post-mortem "condems" were 43.7 million pounds. The USDA records the wholesale "dock" price for whole broilers at $.8175/lb. last week. That gives a value of $49,867,500 to the 61 million pounds of chicken lost to the industry through "condems" IN ONE WEEK!

The "all-natural broiler" trial done with Agrastim shows that the "condem" rate was reduced by 86%. ( I don't know if this was just ante-mortem, or combined both post-mortem and ante-mortem condems.) If this represents both ante-mortem and post-mortem condems, for example, it could represent savings to the industry of as much as $42.8M per week! (This does not even consider the additional reduction of mortality by 50%, nor does it take into account the cost of disposing of condemnations.)

-zties




Source: The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) monthly Poultry Slaughter Report.

Poultry certified wholesome during June 2007 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.52 billion pounds, down 4 percent from the amount certified in June 2006. The May 2007 revised certified total at 3.74 billion pounds, was down 1 percent from May 2006. The May revision represented an increase of 3.46 million pounds from last month’s preliminary pounds certified.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during June 2007 was 4.77 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 4.89 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.05 billion pounds, down 3 percent from June 2006. Mature chickens, at 72.1 million pounds, were down 2 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 628 million pounds, down 2 percent from a year ago. Ducks totaled 14.7 million pounds, down 9 percent from last year.

Young chickens slaughtered during June 2007 averaged 5.48 pounds per bird, up 1 percent from June 2006. The average live weight of mature chickens was 6.08 pounds per bird, down 3 percent from a year ago. Turkeys slaughtered during June 2007 averaged 28.5 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from June 2006.

Ante-mortem condemnations during June 2007 totaled 17.3 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.36 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.35 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 43.7 million pounds, were 1.23 percent of quantities inspected, compared with 1.28 percent a year earlier.

June 2007 contained 21 weekdays and 5 Saturdays, while June 2006 had 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays.

To view the full report, including tables, please click here