impeded by the close stacking of adjacent crates. Broilers on the inside of a load may suffer hyperthermia, while those on the outside may experience hypothermia. The microclimate within the vehicle is a major contributor to both death and overall transport stress in broilers. Prolonged food or water withdrawal for several hours during transport also lead to loss of live weight and loss of potential carcass yield. The actual loss varies depending on the holding conditions, particularly temperature, humidity, ventilation and whether both feed and water, or just feed, are withdrawn.
Limiting transport duration The prevalence of dead broilers in journeys lasting less than four hours is 0.15% but for longer journeys (up to nine hours) it increases to up to 80%. Therefore, limiting journey times to four hours would save more than a quarter of a million broil- ers annually. It is further recommended to place broilers in transport crates at night or early morning, so they experience less stress. After transport, a suitable lairage period in proper holding areas with environmental control is necessary to re- duce thermal stress in live broilers. However, short lairage
24 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 10, 2021
times are recommended for broilers due to the low energy availability in metabolically-active birds who may have suf- fered physiological changes and body weight loss due to fast- ing during transport. Likewise, increased humidity reduces the effectiveness of panting and limits broilers’ ability to lose body heat. Thus, in summer it is recommended to reduce stocking density in crates to control the build-up of heat and humidity, and maintain airflow.
Preventing losses The need for low stress handling of broilers continues to mount due to the growing world population, increased de- mand for good quality lean broiler meat, while preventing financial losses and welfare problems. Automatic broiler harvesting and handling, shorter transport duration, plac- ing broilers in transport crates at night or early in the morn- ing, a suitable lairage period in proper holding areas with environmental control, and reducing stocking density in crates in summer, are some of the recommended low stress handling strategies to be applied in the period be- tween leaving the production unit and arriving at the processing plant.
Improvements in the handling and transport of birds can pre- vent a multitude of meat quality issues and DOAs.
PHOTO: HANS PRINSEN
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