Effects of external ambient temperature at loading, journey duration and flock characteristics on the dead-on-arrival rate in broiler chickens transported to slaughter in Great Britain

Allen, SE; Parker, CD; Verheyen, KLP; Nicol, CJ; Chang, YM

Abstract

Broiler mortality during transport and lairage, prior to slaughter, has negative welfare and eco-nomic implications. Knowledge of the factors affecting the dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate can help identify risk-mitigating strategies. The objectives of this study were to determine the DOA rate in broiler chickens trans-ported to slaughter in Great Britain and associated risk factors. Requested data for all loads of broilers trans-ported to slaughter by 5 large British commercial com-panies on 57 randomly-selected dates in 2019 were obtained and combined with weather data extracted from the Met Office MIDAS Open database. The DOA rate was described overall and per load using summary descriptive statistics. Mixed-effects Poisson regression was used to evaluate considered flock-, journey-and weather-related risk factors. Results were reported as incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence inter-vals (CI). On the selected dates, 25,476 loads trans-ported 146,219,189 broilers to slaughter. The overall mean DOA rate was 0.08%. The median DOA rate per load was 0.06% (interquartile range 0.03-0.09%; range 0.00-17.39%). Multiple risk factors were identified including loading temperature and catch method. At rel-ative humidity <= 80%, the DOA rate was 16.89 (95% CI 15.25-18.70, P < 0.001) times higher for loads loaded in external ambient temperatures >30.0 degrees C compared to those loaded in temperatures between 10.1 degrees C and 15.0 degrees C. When relative humidity was >80%, there was a 43% increase in DOA rate for loads loaded in temperatures below freezing compared to those loaded in tempera-tures between 10.1 degrees C and 15.0 degrees C (IRR 1.43, 95% CI 1.35 -1.52, P < 0.001). The DOA rate was 32% higher for loads caught mechanically compared to those caught manually (IRR 1.32, 95% CI 1.23-1.42, P < 0.001). The overall DOA rate was lower than that previously reported in Great Britain and for other European coun-tries. Most identified risk factors had a marginal effect, however, loading temperatures >30 degrees C substantially increased DOA rate. Internal thermal environmental conditions were not evaluated. Avoidance of loading during periods of hot weather would improve the welfare of, and reduce economic losses in, broiler chickens.

Citation

Allen, S., Parker, C., Verheyen, K., Nicol, C., & Chang, Y. (2023). Effects of external ambient temperature at loading, journey duration and flock characteristics on the dead-on-arrival rate in broiler chickens transported to slaughter in Great Britain. Poultry Science, 102(6), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102634

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 2, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 1, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 6, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 6, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0032-5791
• Publisher: Poultry Science Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 102
• Issue: 6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102634
• Keywords: transport; mortality; broiler; risk factor; welfare; RISK-FACTORS; MORTALITY; WELFARE; TRANSIT