Relationship Between Pre-Slaughter Factors and Major Causes of Carcass Condemnation in a Broiler Slaughterhouse under Federal Inspection

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-slaughter factors and major causes of total or partial carcass condemnation in a broiler slaughterhouse under federal inspection. Data on total and partial carcass condemnations between 2018 and 2020 were collected from 10 broiler farms supplying a slaughterhouse located in northern Paraná State, Brazil. The total sample comprised 2,562,642 birds. The pre-slaughter factors analyzed were age at slaughter, stocking density, weight at slaughter, feed conversion, and mortality.Associations between causes of condemnation and pre-slaughter factors were analyzed using a generalized linear model with negative binomial distribution, a generalized linear model with quasi-Poisson distribution, and a generalized linear mixed model with Poisson distribution. Total carcass condemnations were mostly due to repugnant appearance (48.67%) and arthritis (26.56%), whereas partial carcass condemnations were mainly due to arthritis (31.02%), bruising (27.97%), and myopathies (15.18%). Mean age and stocking density were the preslaughter factors that most contributed to increasing total and partial condemnation rates, indicating that reducing stocking density and age at slaughter might be important strategies for minimizing economic losses associated with carcass condemnation.

Preslaughter handling factors affecting dead on arrival, condemnations, and bruising in broiler chickens raised without an antibiotic program

“…This study found that the percentage of condemnation increased with stocking density. This was consistent with the study by Kanabata et al (2023) , which reported that high stocking density was associated with an increase in ascites condemnation, unattractive appearance condemnation, and overall total condemnation. The acceptable stocking density for rearing should be 33 to 39 kg/m 2 in Europe ( The Council of The European Union, 2007 ).…”

Causas de condenações de carcaças de frango em um frigorífico com inspeção federal nas estações de verão e inverno

“…Poor bleeding was also higher (p<0.01) in the winter (0.034) than in the summer (0.022), being characterized by red areas on the skin of the broiler carcass and resulting from failures in regulation of bleeding equipment or manual incision (Maschio & Raszl, 2012), compromising the microbiological and sensorial quality of the meat. Souza et al (2019) found 6.63% of condemnations for this cause, a value similar to that obtained for the winter, while Kanabata et al (2022) observed a 4.72% condemnation rate, similar to the value obtained for the summer.…”

“…Total condemnation rates reached only 5.2% in the summer and 3.9% in the winter. Similarly, Kanabata et al (2022) described values of 5.1% for total condemnation and 94.9% for partial condemnation of broiler carcasses in Brazil in the period from 2018 to 2020, while Oliveira et al (2016) found 15% for total condemnation and 85% for partial condemnation when evaluating broiler carcasses in Brazil between 2006 and 2011.…”

“…The repugnant appearance was also the highest cause of total condemnation of broiler carcasses in the State of Paraná. Kanabata et al (2022) found rates of 48.67% for broiler carcasses between 2018 and 2020. Paschoal et al (2012) evaluated the causes of condemnations in the period between 2011 and 2012 and obtained a rate of 47.33%.…”

“…The main causes of total condemnation of broiler carcasses reported in the literature have been repugnant appearance, colibacillosis, contamination, airsacculitis, dehydration, and cachexia (Souza et al, 2019;Kanabata et al, 2022). On the other hand, the main causes of partial condemnation are dermatosis, myopathies, contamination, cellulitis, airsacculitis, and contusion/fracture (Muchon et al, 2019;Kanabata et al, 2022).…”