SECTION 8 (tables not done)

Production of high-quality carcasses with good yield depends on the effective integration of the ______, _____, and ________ operations.

growing, catching, and processing operations.

This will ensure that the birds are calm during catching

Return to 23 hours of light prior to catching

• Birds should receive at least _ days on 23 hours of light prior to catching.

• Local legislation for light intensity should be adhered to, but the minimum is ____ lux (0.5-0.9 fc).

• 3

• 5-10

• Feed withdrawal is necessary to allow the contents of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) to be _____ before

  processing.

• This reduces the risk of _____ _________ during transportation and at the processing plant

  and helps to maintain __ ______ during processing.

• emptied

• fecal contamination, GIT integrity

How can feed withdrawal provide a balance between food safety and the avoidancd of excessive weight loss

• food safety (by maximizing the removal of GIT contents)

• (by minimizing the time between the GIT contents being emptied and processing

To achieve this balance, it is recommended that feed is removed from the birds ______ hours before processing.

8 to 12

• An insufficient feed withdrawal period will result in the contents of the gut not being fully ______ prior to processing.

This will lead to false estimates of ________, and increase the risk of ______________ at the processing plant.

• An excessive feed withdrawal period will result in unnecessary extra _________ prior to processing.

• This will also reduce the likelihood of achieving __________ at the processing plant

• emptird

• live wiegh

• fecal contamination

• weight loss

• target weight

Eating will normally occur approximately every _ hours, with drinking occurring several times during that 4-hour eating cycle.

4

It is important that feeding patterns are not disrupted in the last few days and in particular the last 24 hours prior to transportation.

This can lead to aggressive and uncontrolled eating which will affect ______, emptying of the ____ and the effectiveness of ____________

• gut fill

• GIT

• feed withdrawal

• During feed withdrawal leaving the feeders ____ until the catching crews arrive may help to reduce litter eating.

• After feed withdrawal has started the flock should not be _____, for example by excessive walking of the house or opening of doors.

• Whole grain (such as whole wheat) should be removed _ days before processing to avoid the presence of whole grain in the gut at processing.

• down

• disturbed

• 2

• Once the GIT is completely emptied, the rate of weight loss will ________ as body protein and fat are mobilized

  to support metabolism

increase

Water absorbed from body tissues may also accumulate in the digestive tract, further reducing ___ and _________ and increasing the risk of ____________ in the processing plant.

• yield and meat quality

• fecal contamination

Once the gut is completely emptied, birds will lose between _______% of their body weight per hour, depending on:

0.25-0.4

• ______ – loss will be higher in older birds.

• ___ – weight loss is higher in males.

• _______________ – weight loss is increased at extremes of temperature (both high and low).

• Disruption of __________ before feed withdrawal – this will lead to a variation in gut contents and therefore, weight loss between birds.

• Length of time in ____________ – the more time spent in transport modules, the higher the weight loss will be.

• _____________ – high temperatures lead to increased weight loss.

• Bird age

• sex

• House temperature

• eating patterns

• transport crates/modules

• Holding temperature

This weight loss reduces both ________ and ________ and must be minimized.

bird welfare, bird value

A 3 kg (6.6 lb) bird will lose between 3 g (0.1 oz) and ___ g (0.5 oz) of weight if left for only 1 extra hour without feed after the GIT has emptied. If the value of the meat is $1 per kg, this equates to a loss of between 0.3 and 1.5 cents per bird.

15g

Feed withdrawal plans must be _______ and _______ for every flock and be modified promptly if problems occur.

odified and reviewed

If feed withdrawal is not managed correctly, there will be consequences for _______, ________, ________, and _________.

bird welfare, profitability,

product safety, and shelf life.

_____________ of feed withdrawal procedures is necessary to ensure they remain functiona

routine monitoring

The best way to monitor if feed withdrawal times are correct is

visual observations

The presence of __________ from broilers awaiting processing, _________ in the small intestine, and ____ in the crop and gizzard at processing all indicate excessive withdrawal times (more than 12 hours).

The presence of feed in the ___ or ___________ at the processing plant shows that the feed withdrawal period has been inadequate (less than 8 hours).

• watery droppings, water fluid, litter

• crop, fecal contamination

Unlimited access to water should be provided until the ________

point of catching.

Without water birds may become

_________ and the rate at which the GIT empties will be _______.

• dehydrated, reduced

these must be removed from the feed for a sufficient period of time prior to processing to

eliminate pharmaceutical product residues in the meat.

pharmaceuticsls like coccidiostats and prescribed medicines

Pharmaceutical companies advice, and local regulations for removal of coccidiostats and other prescribed

medicines from the diet are specified in product data sheets and should be adhered to.

data sheets

Where a thinning or partial depletion program is used, it may be necessary to increase the __________ to satisfy the mandatory period prior to processing.

Withdrawal periods must always relate to the time of __________

withdrawal period

first thinning

________ should be planned carefully and supervised closely

catching

The ______ of birds and the operation of ______ (such as harvesters and forklifts), must be carried out by trained, competent personnel.

handling, machinery

_________ is paramount

Bird welfare

__________, birds should be kept calm and bird activity minimized

to avoid bruising, scratching, wing damage, and other injuries.

during catching

During catching, house temperature should be between __C (61F) and __C (64F) where possible.

16 to 18C

Dyring catching, Birds should be monitored closely

for any signs of over-heating (panting) or huddling, which may lead to _______.

suffocation

During catching, ______ should be turned off to reduce the potential for accidents and over-heating during catching. __________ must be kept to a minimum, however, _______ must always be supplied throughout the catching process.

• Heaters

• wind chill. fresh air

Thinning or partial depletion of a flock to meet specific processing weight requirements must be managed carefully to ensure that the remaining birds in the house are _______ correctly during the thinning process.

ventilated

Unless a house has been specially designed for a thinning program, it is normal practice for all the feeders

and drinkers to be ____ at the same time during thinning.

lifted

This means that the birds remaining in the house

will be _______ feed and water during this period.

withour

Time without feed for the remaining birds must be kept

to a _________

minimum

Time without feed for the remaining birds must be kept to a mnimim to avoid birds left in the house consuming feed to quickly once thinning is complete, which may lead to ___________ and _________

bacterial imbalance and dysbacteriosis.

Thinning should be completed in as ______ way as possible. Any equipment used must be thoroughly cleaned and

disinfected before entering the house. This will help to minimize the chances of _____________ and

infectious agents being introduced.

• biosecure

• cross contamination

Only birds that are fit for transport should be _____.

caught

Improperly completed and supervised catching (harvesting) can inflict damage by

• ________,

• ___ breakage, and

• ___________ of the legs.

• bruising

• wing

• internal bleeding

For catching in place, ______ procedures regularly and have _________

review

clear guidelines

When catching by hand, broilers should be caught carefully and held by both _____ or __________ using both hands to hold the wings against the body

. Birds should not be carried by the ____ or by the ____.

• shanks

• around the body

• neck, wings

The key to troubleshooting and reducing future risks of bruising is to determine if the bruise occurred

• ________ (> 24 hours old),

• _______ (12-18 hours old) or

• ______________ (minutes

old).

• at the farm

• during catching

• at the processing plant

• Once caught, the birds should be placed carefully into the crates or modules, loading from __________

• _______ result in less bird distress and damage than crates.

• the top down.

• Modules

The number of birds per transport crate or module is subject to ____________

local legislation

In high temperatures the number of birds per crate or module should be reduced; the exact reduction will depend on

• ________,

• ___ of module/crate, and

• ___________

• temperature

• size

• local legislation

To avoid bird damage and distress, ____________ must follow manufacturers’ recommendations.

mechanical catching

• Mechanical equipment (see Figure 8.4) must be operated at __________, with birds never crowded or forced into the catcher.

• Careful alignment of the __________________ with the opening of the crate or module is necessary to avoid damage to the birds.

• moderate speed

• catching equipment chute

During catching, the ________ doors should ideally remain closed to maintain adequate negative pressure and ventilation.

The ability to do this will depend on the ___________ being used.

main house

catching method

Remove or raise ____________ such as feeders or drinkers before

beginning the catching operation.

obstructions

During thinning, the environment for any birds remaining in the

house must be maintained as far as possible and access to feed

and water given __________ after catching is complete.

immediately

Transportation vehicles (Figure 8.5) must provide adequate protection from the _____ and appropriate _______, and comply with ____________

• weather

• ventilation

• local current legislation.

The micro-climate in the bird compartment of the transport vehicle will be ________ to the temperature and humidity outside.

Ventilation and extra ____________ should be used when necessary.

different

heating and/or cooling

In hot weather, consider using fans while loading the birds to keep the air _________ through the crates

or modules on the truck.

circulating

Allow at least __ cm (4 in) between every two tiers of crates or introduce ____________ at regular intervals throughout the load to improve airflow.

• 10cm

• empty transport crates

Birds can quickly become overheated when the transport vehicle is ________, particularly in hot weather or f on-board ventilation is not available.

stationary

The journey plan should allow __________________________________

the vehicle to leave the farm as soon as loading is completed.

Driver breaks should be ___ but within local legislative requirements.

short

________ at the processing plant holding area should be completed without delay.

_______________ will be required if delay is unavoidable.

Unloading

supplementary ventilation

In cold weather, the load should be covered to minimize _______l during transport. Check bird comfort

frequently

wind chil

At the processing plant, the trucks should be parked under ___ and any _____ that may restrict ventilation removed

cover

canvas

Holding facilities at the processing plant should provide ________ and ____________

ventilation

temperature control

The holding areas should be equipped with fully operational ___ , ___, and ______.

light fans foggers

Foggers should be used during periods of high temperatures if relative humidity is below ___%.

In hot weather, water can be sprayed into the fans to assist ____________

• 70%

• evaporative cooling.

Ventilation and/or extra heating should be used when necessary:

◦ during _____

◦ when the vehicle is _______

◦ at the ________ at the processing plant

loading

stationary

holding area

Birds should not remain on the vehicle for any longer than

________

necessary