News
March poultry production 1% lower than last year
The USDA says 4.562 billion pounds of poultry were produced in March 2022, down 1% from March 2021.
That follows a 1% declines for the monthly preliminary live weight, to 6.011 billion pounds, the chicken slaughter of 833.824 million head and the turkey slaughter of 19.327 million head. The average live weight of all chickens was 1% heavier, while the average for turkeys was 2% lighter.
The reported cases of avian influenza in commercial poultry flocks also likely contributed to the lower year-to-year production numbers. Ante-mortem condemnations were reported at 13.377 million pounds, 4% above a year ago and 0.22% of the average live weight, and post-mortem condemnations totaled 28.58 million pounds, 3% below last year, or 0.62% of the amount of poultry certified wholesome.
For the year to date, U.S. poultry production is 12.711 billion pounds, 2% ahead of the year ago pace.
