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Title: EFFECTS OF REPLACEMENT FINISHER FEED AND LENGTH OF FEED WITHDRAWAL ON BROILER CARCASS YIELD AND BACTERIA RECOVERY

Author
item Northcutt, Julie
item Buhr, Richard - Jeff
item Berrang, Mark
item FLETCHER, D - UGA

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/24/2003
Publication Date: 11/30/2003
Citation: Northcutt, J.K., Buhr, R.J., Berrang, M.E., Fletcher, D.L. 2003. Effects of replacement finisher feed and length of feed withdrawal on broiler carcass yield and bacteria recovery. Poultry Science. 82(11):1820-1824.

Interpretive Summary: A study was conducted to determine the effects of a nontraditional broiler feed on carcass yield and carcass bacteria recovery. The nontraditional feed is a commercial formulation of a glucose polymer with added salts and vitamins. Commercial male broilers were given either nontraditional or traditional broiler feed for 8 hours. After this 8 hour feeding period, feed was removed from broilers for 0, 4, 8, or 12 hours before processing. During processing, bacteria on carcasses were recovered using a carcass rinsing technique. Type of feed had no effect on the body weight of broilers. Broilers held without feed for longer periods of time (8 or 12 hours) lost more weight than held without feed for shorter periods of time (0 or 4 hours). Birds fed the nontraditional feed had less weight loss during the 8 and 12 h feed withdrawal period than broilers fed traditional feed. This difference was approximately 0.1% per hour of feed withdrawal. Type of feed or length of feed withdrawal did not affect the recovery of bacteria from carcasses.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the effects of a nontraditional broiler feed on carcass yield and carcass bacteria recovery. The nontraditional feed is a commercial formulation of a glucose polymer with added salts and vitamins. Commercial male broilers were given either nontraditional or traditional broiler feed for 8 hours. After this 8 hour feeding period, feed was removed brom broilers for 0, 4, 8, or 12 hours before processing. During processing, bacteria on carcasses were recovered using a carcass rinsing technique. Type of feed had no effect on the body weight of broilers. Broilers held without feed for longer periods of time (8 or 12 hours) lost more weight than held without feed for shorter periods of time (0 or 4 hours). Birds fed the nontraditional feed had less weight loss during the 8 and 12 h feed withdrawl period than broilers fed traditional feed. This difference was approximately 0.1% per hour of feed withdrawl. Type of feed or length of feed withdrawl did not affect the recovery of bacteria from carcasses.