How to Load Poultry and Transport Them to the Slaughterhouse
The value of broiler flocks can only be assessed after slaughter and grading. Catching, transporting, and slaughtering poultry, especially when done with poor management, can lead to reduced carcass quality. The process of catching and transporting birds is highly stressful. It should be performed as quickly as possible and under the best conditions. Catching and transporting poultry should be done in complete calmness to minimize stress. This results in a reduced percentage of rejects and mortality at the slaughterhouse. The responsibility should be shared between the poultry farmer and the slaughterhouse operator. The farmer must know the weight and number of birds sent to the slaughterhouse, observe fasting periods and drug withdrawal times before slaughter, and carefully oversee the collection process. The slaughterhouse officials are responsible for maintaining the hygiene of cages and vehicles sent to the poultry farm.
Monitoring the quality of poultry transportation to the slaughterhouse involves several aspects, including the number of birds per cage, transporting birds based on their weight, ambient temperature, distance to the slaughterhouse, precise scheduling to ensure timely arrival, and minimizing waiting times before slaughter.
Example of a Standard Program for Loading and Transporting Poultry to the Slaughterhouse:
- Birds should be deprived of feed and water for 4 to 5 hours before transportation.
- The duration of transportation to the slaughterhouse should be 1 to 4 hours.
- Waiting time at the slaughterhouse should be 1 to 2 hours.
- On average, the time between feed deprivation and slaughter should be 8 to 12 hours.
- To minimize contamination from feces and leftover feed in the crop at the slaughterhouse, at least 8 hours of fasting is required. Each hour of waiting at the slaughterhouse reduces the birds’ weight by 0.2% (under normal temperature). Further delays lead to dehydration and water loss through feces.
Feed Deprivation Time Before Slaughter
Feed should be withdrawn at least 8 hours before transporting birds to the slaughterhouse, and it is recommended that water remains available until an hour before catching the birds. In some cases, poultry may consume leftover feed from the litter, so it is best to turn off the lights during this time.
Catching Poultry
Loading should be adjusted based on the capacity of the transport vehicle and the speed of slaughter lines. In moderate weather, the maximum loading capacity is 50 kilograms per square meter, while in hot weather, the maximum capacity is reduced to 40 kilograms per square meter.
The loading process should be carried out in a way that minimizes stress and injuries to the birds. Workers must wear protective clothing and boots during loading. Care must be taken during the catching process to prevent suffocation and injuries to the wings, legs, and skin, particularly for heavier birds and when the distance to the slaughterhouse is long.
All objects that may cause harm to the birds should be removed from the hall before catching and loading. Birds should be caught by their legs, with a maximum of three birds held in one hand (depending on their weight), and the handling time should be minimized.
Heavy birds should be held by both legs, with one hand placed under their breast for support. Birds must be placed gently and carefully into the cages. It is preferable to catch them in the dark, as they remain calmer, reducing the risk of suffocation and physical injuries. Sick flocks tend to resist catching less.
Loading should be avoided during the hottest hours of the day. In open-housing systems, a blue curtain at the entrance of the hall can help reduce heat stress.
To prevent poultry from suffocating due to piling on top of each other, portable nets can be used to divide the hall during the catching process. In hot weather, avoid leaving transport vehicles containing poultry under direct sunlight. If possible, use ventilation systems to lower the temperature inside the vehicle.
In cold weather, both sides of the transport vehicle should be covered with tarpaulin during the journey to the slaughterhouse to prevent exposure to cold air. At the slaughterhouse, a suitable area should be designated for stopping the vehicle, ensuring it is not exposed to direct sunlight and has adequate ventilation and moisture control.
- Public Relations Office of the Arta Joojeh Sabalan Integrated Poultry Meat Production Chain