Poultry Processing

  • Outward Appearance

    • Skin: various colors, especially on beaks and skanks, are signs of maturity

      • carotenoids from feed results in darker pigments

      • Skin color influences acceptability of poultry meat

        • yellow preferred in US

    • Comb & Wattles

      • secondary sex characteristics

      • surgical removal; “dubbing” and “dewattling”

  • Feathers

    • Appendages to the skin; genetic trait

      • most economic value—white feathered

        • appear “cleaner” after processing due to translucent follicles

  • Skeletal Anatomy of a Chicken

    • Built for flight

      • light weight

    • Long bones are hollow

      • penetrated by air sacs

    • Rigid due to fusion

      • Vertebral column and pectoral and pelvic girdles

Chicken Skeleton

  • Respiratory system

    • posses 8-9 air sacs in the body cavity— helps ease air in and out of a complex bronchi system

    • Air sacs are inspected for signs of disease in postmortem inspection

  • Muscular System (head, wing, and shank removed)

    • Crop: stores food

    • Pectoral muscles in wing and breast region

      • extensive attachment to sternum

      • 15-20% of birds total weight

      • light in color

        • myoglobin levels

      • muscle activity

Broiler Fabrication

  • Broiler Cuts

    • Know popular cuts of poultry

    • Fabrication:

      • Whole: entire bird

      • Half: split the same as beef and pork

      • Pieces

    • Broiler Carcass Meat:

      • based on color: depending on muscle fibers

        • White Meat: more Type IIB muscle fibers

        • Dark Meat: more Type I muscle fibers

          • know which are locomotive vs support, what type of fibers they’re made of and what that means from a myoglobin concentration

  • Parts of a Chicken

    • Feet: marketed to Asia, Caribbean countries, and Mexico

  • Nutritional Benefits

    • Primarily considered a healthier meat source

      • avoids “bad cholesterol”

      • lean

        • skin has the highest fat concentration

      • good source of selenium and Vit B6

  • Raising Chickens: Eggs to Plates

    • Hatched

    • Vaccinated

    • Sent to broiler farm the day they’re hatched

    • Feed Mill

      • corn and soybean mill are commonly used for poultry; impacts skin color

      • formulated for their specific stage in life

      • all broilers are raised without steroids and hormones

      • strict security in temp-controlled houses

    • Farmers inspect flock frequently

    • Human euthanasia

    • Transportation

      • catchers carry them by the legs

    • Strike System: if too many birds come to the slaughter house with broken limbs or injuries, then they lose business

    • Slaughter

      • dim light keeps them calm

      • stunning: electrical and controlled atmosphere

  • Poultry Processing

    • Salmonella is a big concern in poultry processing

    • Practices that reduce salmonella

      • positive harvests are quarantined

    • All automated

  • Grocery Stores

    • shop for poultry last