The Broiler Industry

Question 1

why is there very little bird management?

Answer 1

broiler houses are very automated (and expensive to build)

Question 2

Average house size

Answer 2

40,000 sq ft, houses continue to get larger

Question 3

how much space is given per chicken?

Answer 3

o.5/1 sq ft per chicken

Question 4

what is automated in the houses?

Answer 4

water, feed, lights, ventilation

Question 5

automated ventilation

Answer 5

-rid of CO2, dust, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide
-manage humidity (ideally 60-80%)
(cross wise or lengthwise systems)

Question 6

contract growers

Answer 6

25,000 family farms with contracts
– farmer (housing, feed, water, electricity, fuel, litter, labor)
– company (supply chicks, feed, meds, and supervision)

Question 7

amount of light and dark growing birds need each day

Answer 7

• 16 hours of light
• 8 hours of dark

Question 8

what is the priority at a poultry processing plant?

Answer 8

bird welfare

Question 9

how are birds processed?

Answer 9

• shackled and hung upside down alive
• stunned (electric or controlled atmosphere)
• bleed out (exsanguination kills the bird)
• birds plucked (moved to new shackles)
• eviseration (organs removed)
• chilled (water, counter current, and air chilled)
• inspected

Question 10

why do we warm up birds when plucking?

Answer 10

softens the tissue, feathers come out easier

Question 11

methods of chilling

Answer 11

• water
• counter current flow (birds go one way, water moves the other, cooling the birds)
• air chilled (cool place, fridge)

Question 12

fresh chicken

Answer 12

immediately chilled to 40 degrees F

Question 13

frozen chicken

Answer 13

frozen at 0 degrees F