Factors associated with mortality of broilers during transport to slaughterhouse

Abstract

In recent years, broiler mortality during transport to the slaughterhouse has become a cause for concern because of animal welfare considerations and associated economic losses. A descriptive and analytical epidemiological study was carried out to estimate the extent of DoA in poultry broiler production in the main producing regions of France and to determine factors influencing the DoA rate. Data regarding animal characteristics and rearing, catching, transport and lairage conditions were collected on farm and at the slaughterhouse for 404 chicken broiler flocks processed during 2005. The average DoA rate was 0.18% (from 0% to 1.4%). Variables found to be associated ( P , 0.05) with the DoA rate in a multivariable negative binomial model were flock cumulative mortality on farm, the catching system (mechanical being more at risk than manual), the density in crates (more space allowance being associated with less mortality) and climatic conditions (rain and wind being associated with more DoA). Mortality during transport is thus related to all production steps from the farm to the slaughterhouse. Efforts have therefore to be made by all professionals to contain mortality on farm and during catching and transportation.

Injury and mortality in broilers during handling and transport to slaughter

“…This is compatible with reports from various studies conducted in Europe since 1990, where most studies have reported a % DOA of broilers transported to slaughter of 0.2% with a range from 0.1 to 0.6% (Bayliss and Hinton 1990; Warriss et al 1992;Gregory and Austin 1992;Hunter et al 2001;Nijdam et al 2004;Warriss et al 2005;Petracci et al 2006;Haslam et al 2008;Chauvin et al 2011;Jacobs et al 2017a). There are many variables that can affect the risk of injury and mortality.…”

“…For example, the manner of supervision of stockmen during broiler rearing can affect broiler mortality (de Alencar et al 2006). However, no effect of floor stocking density during rearing on the % DOA was found by Chauvin et al (2011).…”

“…In a study in Canada, where the mortality during rearing was 6.9%, a significant effect of rearing mortality on % DOA was found and gross pathological lesions were identified in about half of the birds that were DOA Whiting et al 2007). In the United Kingdom, Haslam et al (2008) reported a significant correlation between mortality during rearing and % DOA and in a study in France; Chauvin et al (2011) found a significant influence of mortality during the rearing period on % DOA. Jacobs et al (2017a) found that when rigorous culling to remove unfit birds during rearing was included in the % mortality during rearing; there was a negative relationship with % DOA.…”

“…These include (a) mortality rate during the rearing period, method of catching, crate stocking density and weather conditions (Chauvin et al 2011 (Nijdam et al 2004), (c) mortality rate during the rearing period, live weight, starting loading later in the day, and ambient temperature during unloading at the processing plant , and (d) bird sex, age and weight; duration of feed withdrawal before loading, catching team, crate stocking density, external temperature, journey duration and holding barn duration (Caffrey et al The influence of the health of broilers on the risk of mortality during handling and transport has been examined by consideration of the health status during rearing, by examining pathology in broilers that were DOA, and in those slaughtered, but subsequently condemned as not fit for human consumption. In one study, Hunter et al (2001) reported that for loads with a relatively low % DOA of 0.12%, 71% of these DOA birds were considered to have had pre-existing pathological conditions that increased their risk of mortality.…”

Effects of dietary supplementation with creatine monohydrate during the finishing period on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and muscle glycolytic potential of broilers subjected to transport stress

“…Long duration transportation has been reported to result in physiological and metabolic changes (Yue et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2009) and that can affect animal welfare, processing yield and meat quality (Owens and Sams, 2000;Dadgar et al, 2010;Petracci et al, 2010). More importantly, transport stress also causes higher chicken mortality, live weight loss and poor meat quality, which results in substantial economic losses to the poultry industry (Bianchi et al, 2005;Karaman, 2009;Chauvin et al, 2011). Thus, the importance of reducing transport stress and improving meat quality is becoming widely recognized.…”