NW_PY002
Washington, DC          Wed. Dec 31, 2008          USDA Market News

BROILER/FRYER: Weekly Young Chickens Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection (Thur)
                              Week ending    27-Dec-08
(Preliminary)
                 ---------------------------Thousands--------------------------
                       A            B            C            D
                     4.25 lbs      4.26 -       6.26 -      7.76 lbs
                      & down      6.25 lbs     7.75 lbs       & up       Total


Head                    24,945       56,397       15,184       11,929      108,455
Avg Live Wgt              3.82         5.40         6.90         8.35         5.53
% of total /1              23%          52%          14%          11%         100%

Comparisons

Last week               36,911       79,973       21,531       15,380      153,795
Avg Live Wgt              3.81         5.42         6.88         8.35         5.48
% of total /1              24%          52%          14%          10%         100%

Year Ago 2/             30,591       63,250       15,747       13,854      123,442
Avg Live Wgt              3.74         5.40         6.92         8.38         5.52
% of total /1              25%          51%          13%          11%         100%

To date/2008         2,138,506    4,073,656    1,261,007      923,799    8,396,968
To date/2007         2,222,059    4,158,652    1,364,973      656,892    8,402,576

/1 May not total to 100% due to rounding.
/2 Comparable week.

Weight Class Description:
(A) This size product is normally marketed bone-in into fast food and food
    service sectors and may include Cornish hens.
(B) This size product is normally marketed into the retail grocery sector in
    tray pack or bagged forms.
(C) This size product is normally marketed either into the retail grocery
    sector in tray pack and IQF form or is further processed and marketed
    into various sectors.
(D) This size product is normally marketed deboned or as roasters or roasting
    chicken.

SOURCE: USDA AMS Poultry Programs, Market News & Analysis Branch
        Washington, DC     202.720.6911
        http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_PY002.txt

Prepared: 31-Dec-08 11:35 AM E AH