Monthly Broiler Production Statistics, May 2024.
Broiler Chick Placements May-June 2025.
According to the June 18th 2025 USDA Broiler Hatchery Report, 1.260 million eggs were set over five weeks extending from May 17th 2025 through June14th 2025 inclusive. This was 1.2 percent higher compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
Total chick placements for the U.S. over the five-week period amounted to 967.67 million chicks. Claimed hatchability for the period averaged 79.1 percent for eggs set three weeks earlier. Each 1.0 percent change in hatchability represents approximately 1.92 million chicks placed per week and 1.82 million broilers processed, assuming five percent culls and mortality and within the current range of weekly settings.
Cumulative chick placements for the period January 7th through December 30th 2024 amounted to 9.67 billion chicks. For January 4th through June 14th 2025 chick
placements attained 4.61 billion, up one percent from the corresponding week in 2023.
According to the June 23rd 2025 edition of the USDA Chickens and Eggs, pullet breeder chicks hatched and intended for U.S. placement during May 2025 amounted to 8.17 million, down 0.7 percent (58,000 pullet chicks) from May 2024 and 7.9 percent (699,000 pullet chicks) less than the previous month of April 2025. Broiler breeder hen complement attained 60.30 million on May1st 2025, 2.0 percent (1.23 million hens) less than on May 1st 2024.
Broiler Production May 2025
As documented in the June 19th 2025 USDA Weekly Poultry Slaughter Reports for the processing week ending June 14th 2025, 170.9 million broilers were processed at 6.50 lbs. live. This was 3.6 percent more than the 165.0 million processed during the corresponding week in June 2024. Broilers processed in 2025 to date amounted to 3,963 million, 1.9 percent more than for the corresponding period in 2024.
Ready to cook (RTC) weight for the most recent week in June was 852.2 million lbs. (387,364 metric tons). This was 4.5 percent more than the 815.2 million lbs. during the corresponding week in June 2024. Dressing percentage was a nominal 76.0 percent. For 2025 to date RTC broiler production attained 19.777 million lbs. (8.99 million metric tons). This quantity was 3.4 percent more than for the corresponding period in 2024.
The USDA posted live-weight data for the past week ending June 14th and YTD 2025 included:-
|
Live Weight Range (lbs.)
|
<4.25
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4.26-6.25
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6.26-7.25
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>7.76
|
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Proportion past week (%)
|
15
|
27
|
26
|
32
|
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Change from 2020 YTD (%)
|
-7
|
+4
|
-3
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+10
|
May 2025 Frozen Inventory
According to the June 25th 2025 USDA Cold Storage Report, issued monthly, stocks of broiler products as of May 31st 2025 compared to May 31st 2024 showed differences with respect to the following categories:-
- Total Chicken category attained 754.4 million lbs. (342,905 metric tons) corresponding to approximately one week of production based on recent weekly RTC output. The May 31st 2025 inventory was up 1.0 percent compared to 747,092 million lbs. (389,587 metric tons) on May 31st 2024 and up 0.1 percent from the previous month of April 2025.
- Leg Quarters were down by 2.7 percent to 51.0 million lbs. compared to May 31st 2024 consistent with the data on exports. Inventory was down 6.5 percent from April 2025. Given the trend in inventory of leg quarters it is evident that this category continues to be shipped in varying quantities as the principal (97 percent) chicken export product to a number of nations with The top five importers representing 50.3 percent of the January-April 2025 chicken parts export total of 984,621 metric tons. Mexico was the leading importer with 23.1 percent followed by Cuba (8.9%); Taiwan, (7.0%); Philippines, (6.1%) and Canada, (5.2%)
- The Breasts and Breast Meat category was up 7.0 percent from May 31st 2024 to 223.9 million lbs. indicating a relatively higher domestic consumer demand despite concern over inflation in the cost of protein. May 31st 2025 stock was 0.1 percent lower than on April 30th 2025. The trend through the first four months of 2025 suggests stable but low retail and food service demand for the white meat category. This is despite promotion of chicken sandwiches by QSRs in the face of a higher cost for beef and an increasing pattern of eat-at-home consumption.
- Total inventory of dark meat (drumsticks legs, thighs and thigh quarters but excluding leg quarters) on May 31st 2025 decreased 1.6 percent from May 31st 2024 to 66.1 million lbs. This difference suggests an increase in domestic demand for lower-priced dark meat against the prevailing price of white chicken meat. Prevailing prices for competitive proteins offer an opportunity to increase domestic demand for this category with innovative product development and promotion.
- Wings showed a 10.0 percent increase from May 31st 2024, contributing to a stock of 57.6 million lbs. This category was 0.9 percent lower compared to April 30th 2025. Movement in stock over the past 12 months has demonstrated lower demand for this category due in part from competitive “boneless wings.” Increased consumption traditionally associated with significant sports events including the College Bowl and Super Bowl reduced the volumes of storage in January and February 2025. The progressive increase in unit price during 2024 plateaued in 2025 due to consumer fatigue and competition from competing protein snacks despite continued interest in professional and collegiate football.
- The inventory of Paws and Feet was 23.7 percent higher than on May 31st 2024 to 31.3 million lbs. Stock was was 3.9 percent lower than on April 30th 2025. Prior to the April 2020 Phase-1 Trade Agreement approximately half of the shipments of paws and feet destined for Hong Kong were landed and transshipped to the Mainland, a trend that is re-emerging.
- The Other category comprising 311.2 million lbs. on May 31st 2025 was down 4.0 percent from May 31st 2024 but represented a substantial 41.3 percent of inventory. The high proportion of the Other category suggests further classification or re-allocation by USDA to the designated major categories.
May 2025 Processed Broiler Production
The USDA Poultry Slaughter Report released on June 25th 2025 covered May 2025 comprising 22 working days, one less than May 2024. The following values were documented for the month:-
- A total of 795.8 million broilers were processed in May 2025, down 18.0 million or 2.5 percent from May 2024;
- Total live weight in May 2025 was 5,286 million lbs., down 13.8 million lbs. or 0.3 percent from May 2024;
- Unit live weight in May 2025 was 6.64 lbs., down 0.13lb. (2.0 percent) May 2024.
- RTC in May 2025 attained 3,991 million lbs., down 21.4 million lbs. or 0.5 percent from May 2004.
- WOG yield in May 2025 was 75.5 percent, down from 75.7 percent in May 2024.
- The proportion marketed as chilled in May 2025 comprised 92.9 percent of RTC output compared to 93.7 percent in May 2024.
- Ante-mortem condemnation as a proportion of live weight attained 0.18 percent during May 2025 unchanged from May 2024.
- Post-mortem condemnations as a proportion of processed mass corresponded to 0.43 percent during May 2025 compared to 0.46 percent in May 2024.
Comments
Mexico has recognized the OIE principle of regionalization after intensive negotiations between SENASICA and U.S. counterpart, the USDA-APHIS assisted by USAPEEC. Provided importing nations adhere to OIE guidelines on regionalization, localized outbreaks of avian influenza or possibly Newcastle disease will affect exports only from states or counties with outbreaks in commercial flocks. The response of China, Japan and some other nations is more predictable with bans placed on a nationwide or statewide basis. The response by China to outbreaks is influenced more by self-interest than considerations of scientific fact or international trade obligations. Other importing nations have confined restrictions to counties following the WOAH principle of regionalization. The challenge facing the U.S. as the second largest exporting nation will be to gain acceptance for controlled vaccination against HPAI in specific industry sectors and regions with appropriate surveillance and certification to the satisfaction of importing nations.
Collectively our NAFTA/USMCA neighbors imported broiler products to the value of $471 million over the first four months of 2025 representing 30.8 percent of export value.