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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409399
Research Project: Assessment of Quality Attributes of Poultry Products, Grain, Seed, Nuts, and Feed

Location: Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit

Title: Alternative slaughter procedures: on-farm slaughter and transport system for broilers

Author
item SAMOYLOV, ALEX - Georgia Technology Research Institute
item SCHWEAN-LARDNER, KAREN - University Of Saskatchewan
item CROWE, TREVER - University Of Saskatchewan
item DALEY, WAYNE - Georgia Technology Research Institute
item GIORGES, AKLILU - Georgia Technology Research Institute
item KIEPPER, BRIAN - University Of Georgia
item BOURASSA, DIANNA - Auburn University
item Bowker, Brian
item Zhuang, Hong
item CHRISTENSEN, KAREN - Tyson Foods
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff

Submitted to: Poultry Science Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/18/2023
Publication Date: 10/21/2023
Citation: Samoylov, A., Schwean-Lardner, K., Crowe, T., Daley, W., Giorges, A., Kiepper, B., Bourassa, D., Bowker, B.C., Zhuang, H., Christensen, K., Buhr, R.J. 2023. Alternative slaughter procedures: on-farm slaughter and transport system for broilers. Poultry Science Symposium Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.103137.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.103137

Interpretive Summary: .

Technical Abstract: This paper focuses on “Alternative methods for initial broiler processing” and exploration of alternative processing including slaughter at the farm immediately after catching. On-farm Slaughter and Transport (FSaT) is envisioned as a mobile unit that stuns, slaughters, and shackles the broiler carcasses at the farm. A separate trailer-unit then transports the shackled broiler carcasses to the processing plant. Once at the processing plant carcasses are mechanically transferred into plant shackle lines and moved into processing. The hypothesis is that the FSaT approach will dramatically improve overall bird welfare and well-being by reducing live handling and eliminating live transport from the farm to the processing plant. In addition, ancillary impacts could include: improving yield efficiencies by eliminating DOAs, potentially reducing water and energy consumption, reducing labor requirements at the processing plant with the elimination of live rehang, and offering an economically sustainable alternative. The FSaT approach represents a radical change from traditional processing, and its effects on poultry processing need to be evaluated. This paper presents results of experiments conducted at a commercial poultry processor to evaluate feather picking efficiency, carcass bacteriological loading, and meat quality for delayed processed carcasses.