Abstract
ABSTRACT This study aimed at determining the total losses associated with the season, transportation distance, and slaughter age during the transportation of broilers from poultry farms to slaughterhouses in Turkey. All data and parameters were statistically analyzed and the change in total loss during transportation was evaluated by two-way analysis of variance to determine which factors or variables affect this change. Total transportation losses were compared among the four seasons of the year, two slaughter ages (younger broiler, 31-39 days of age; older broilers 40-46 days of age) and three distance ranges (short, ≤50 km; medium, 51-150 km; and long, ≥151 km). Total losses of 259.40 g, 307.35 g, and 350.14 g were determined for short, medium and long distances, respectively, indicating that losses increased with transportation distance (p<0.05). Broilers slaughtered at a younger age presented lower total losses than those slaughtered at an older age (p<0.05). When seasons were evaluated, the highest total loss was determined in the summer, which was not statistically different from that calculated for autumn, whereas total transportation losses in spring and winter were found relatively lower. The study showed long-distance transportation in the winter considerably increased total losses to levels similar to those obtained in the summer.
Highlights
During the transportation of broiler chickens in integrated production systems from poultry farms to processing plants and during preslaughter stages, significant production losses may occur due to human and environmental factors
The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of season, transportation distance, and slaughter age on total loss of broilers transported from the farms to the processing plant
A study conducted in the USA reported that the calculated 4.2% average loss during the transportation of broilers was due to live weight loss and 1.8% originated from excreta (Taylor et al, 2001)
Summary
During the transportation of broiler chickens in integrated production systems from poultry farms to processing plants and during preslaughter stages, significant production losses may occur due to human and environmental factors. Economic losses in broiler production occur during catching of the broilers on the farms, loading into vehicles, transportation conditions, and lairage time in the processing plant (Warriss et al, 1992; Nijdam et al, 2004; Schwartzkopf-Genswein et al, 2012; Vieira et al, 2015; Vecerek et al 2016). Catching on the farms and loading into vehicles are stages of the production process which are significantly affected by the human factor.
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