Chicken meat- transport and slaughtering conditions

The chicken meat quality on the market is increasingly valued by consumers. The achievement of the physical integrity of animals during transport and slaughter is claimed by associations of animal welfare. Many authors have reported that the transport conditions and slaughter can lead to significant economic losses and negatively affect the sanitary quality of products (Gregory, 1992; Berri, 2000; Nunes, 2004). In several species of poultry, there has been trauma during the carcasses inspection.

These are mostly bruises and fractures. Nevertheless, the influence of the stages prior to slaughter (harvest and transport) has been few studied. Therefore, the objectives of this study focused on a survey conducted at the poultry slaughterhouse of Batna (Algeria) on three batches of 3000 broilers ISA 15 (lot 1,2 and 3), to assess the frequency and characteristics of external lesions observed on chicken carcasses before and after slaughter and the condemnation rate.

Studies of catching conditions, transport and discharge of poultry are rare in Algeria. Barbuat et al (1974) showed that the transport conditions have led to many lesions in poultry (wing bruises, fractures, dislocation). However, Gregory and Wilkins (1992) reported that the beating of wings of birds in cages transport cause the appearance of bruises, fractures and trauma. The condemnation frequency observed in our experiment is lower than that reported by Bremner (1994), Herrenda et al, (1994), Lupo et al (2007). However, the causes of seizure were heterogeneous in their work. This first study in Algeria, has demonstrated an association of several risk factors leading to a depreciation of the carcass quality and assessment of different condemnation causes.

The losses with contusions, fractures and dislocation can be reduced by improving the management of harvesting and transportation as well as the adjustment of the equipment used at slaughter. The veterinary control of slaughterhouse should be improved, since it is crucial in the quality of the final product.



Table 1 Prevalence of lesions before to slaughter chickens (%).



Figure 1. Condemnation prevalence of chicken carcasses after sanitary inspection for each lot (%).


 
Figure 2. Major causes of sanitary condemnation in slaughterhouse (%)


References

BARBUAT G., ANDREA B. (1974) Influence des conditions de productions et d'abattage sur la présentation du poulet. Doc., ITAVI, 54 p.

BERRI C. (2002). Variability of sensory and processing qualities of poultry meat. World's Poult. Sc. J., 56: 209-224.

BREMNER A.S. (1994) Post mortem condemnation returns from poultry slaughterhouses in England and Wales. Vet. Rec., 135 (26): 622-623.

GREGORY N.G. and WILKINS L.G. (1992) Skeletal damage and bone defects during catching and processing. Bone Biology and Skeletal disorders in poultry, 313-328, Abington, UK.

GREGORY N.G. and AUSTIN S.D. (1992) Causes of trauma in broilers arriving dead at poultry processing plant. Vet. Rec., 131 (22): 501-503.

HERRENDA D. and JAKAL O. (1994) Poultry abattoir survey of carcass condemnation for standard, vegetarian, and free range chickens. Can. Vet. J., 35 (5): 293-296.

LUPO C., CHAWIN C., BALAINE L., PETETIN I., PERAST J., LE BOUQUIN S. (2007) Saisie sanitaire lors de l'inspection des poulets de chair à l'abattoir.VII eme J.R.A., Tours, France, 500-504.

NUNES F. (2004) Pre-slaughter management the first step towards yield and quality. World Poult. 20 (9): 32-35