Author
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NORTHCUTT, JULIE |
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Submitted to: Georgia Poultry Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 9/27/2003 Publication Date: 9/27/2003 Citation: Northcutt, J.K. 2003. Feed withdrawl update and discussion, part iv: heat stress and short term feed outage before processing. Georgia Poultry Conference Proceedings. The University of Georgia, Athens, GA p.38-42. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Feed and water are routinely removed from poultry during the last few hours before processing to facilitate gastrointestinal tract emptying. Less material in the gastrointestinal tract at the time of processing reduces the likelihood of carcass contamination. However, it is difficult to balance intestinal voiding with weight loss due to the lack of feed. In this proceedings and the accompanying presentation, data from two separate studies was discussed. The environmental temperature of broilers before and during feed withdrawal as well as the availability of feed up to the withdrawal time may affect gastrointestinal emptying and carcass yield. In the first study, birds were held at 25 C (cool), 29 C (normal) or 34 C (warm) during a 12 hour feed withdrawal period. Birds held at the warm temperature instead of cool or normal temperature had greater live shrink (5.7% versus 3.9 and 3.2%) and lower carcass yield (dock weight and New York dressed weight). In the second study, broilers were allowed to run out of feed for 12 hour before the scheduled 10 hour feed withdrawal. Following the 12 hour feed outage, birds were given either a 48 hour, 24 hour or 12 hour refeeding period before the 10 hour feed withdrawal. The feed outage had little effect on bird weight at slaughter, total feed consumption, feed conversion or carcass yield. Data from these two studies provides useful information as both heat stress and short term feed outages are frequent problems that affect the poultry industry. |
