USDA Young Chickens Sltrd Under Fed Insp 02/26 10:51

NW_PY002
Des Moines, IA          Thu. Feb 26, 2026          USDA Market News

BROILER/FRYER: Weekly Young Chickens Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection (Thur)
                            Week ending  21-Feb-26
(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                  21,258      61,002      41,476      48,671     172,407
Avg Live Wgt            3.88        5.06        6.95        9.04        6.49
% of total /1            12%         35%         24%         28%        100%

Comparisons

Last week             24,584      58,196      37,898      51,499     172,177
Avg Live Wgt            3.93        5.11        6.94        9.04        6.52
% of total /1            14%         34%         22%         30%        100%

Year Ago 2/           24,439      48,870      44,941      44,420     162,670
Avg Live Wgt            3.78        5.09        6.88        9.12        6.49
% of total /1            15%         30%         28%         27%        100%

To date/2026*        205,491     399,459     353,408     391,472   1,349,830
To date/2025*        211,275     387,849     331,730     363,677   1,294,531
% Change YTD             -3%          3%          7%          8%          4%

/1 May not total to 100% due to rounding.
/2 Comparable week.
*Note: Year to-date totals reflect comparable time periods.

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 Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News
        Des Moines, IA     515.284.4460  email: desm.lpgmn@ams.usda.gov
        http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain

Prepared: 26-Feb-26 10:04 AM C NBS

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