• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Big Book Project

The Big Book Project

Agribusiness Training & Startup Tools

  • About
  • Blog
  • eBook
  • Learn
The Ultimate Business Guide To Poultry Farming

Chapter 19 – Preparing Your Broilers For Processing

Last updated on June 5, 2021 by Temi Cole Leave a Comment

🥇Download The eBook

[pmb_print_buttons]

Go to chapter 20 of this eBook by clicking this link…“Agri-accounting & Bookkeeping”. Click here to find the next chapter.

Hello,

FACT:

Getting your broilers to target weight is NOT the end goal.

Getting them to market is.

As the saying goes, it isn’t over, until it’s over.

Broilers are finely tuned. Creatures of habit and largely affected by their rearing conditions.

The slightest change to routine or environmental conditions applies stress to their bodies.

This often results in a positive or negative impact on your final weight outcome.

As in the case of preparing your broilers to be processed, even in the hours leading up to slaughter…

…delays and discomfort typically lead to a loss of weight.

Loss of weight = loss of money per kg in the trade.

So, keeping your broilers as consistently cared for as possible – before (pre) processing – all counts.

Where and why losses can be made in preprocessing…

  • 23 hours of light 3 days prior to catching – calms birds. Calm birds maintain their weight.
  • Feed withdrawal is required to empty the gut for accurate live weight and also to avoid faecal contamination
    • This should be done approximately 8-12 hours before slaughter for best results:
      • Including, time in the house, catching time, transport time and lairage.
    • Leading up to the day of transport ensure the following is unchanged:
      • regular feeding practice (before feed withdrawal)
      • environmental temperature
      • feeding space
    • Remove whole grain at least 2 days prior to catch
    • Keep feeders down during feed withdrawal until catching crews arrive – this avoids litter eating
    • Keep all flock disturbances to an absolute minimum (unusual lighting practices, loud noise, temperature, opening & closing of doors, walking up and down around flocks etc.)
    • You can naturally expect birds to lose only about 0.25% of their body weight per hour during feed withdrawal
    • Monitor withdrawal behaviour continuously to prevent unnecessary losses
    • Water should be given right up until the catch. Dehydration is a threat during the waiting period before slaughter.
  • Plan your catch carefully and ensure your crew are well-trained, disciplined, under strict orders and prioritise bird welfare for best results.
    • Birds should be kept calm
    • Minimise physical contact and jostling
    • 16-18 degrees C and controlled ventilation (fresh air) – but avoiding chilling the birds
    • A checklist should be used to summarise your action plan
    • Always catch with care and minimal disruption – correct methods are profit saving, preserving the quality of the product.
  • Transporting birds to market
    • Use modules rather than crates – this saves on birds accumulating bodily damage (the better investment)
    • Make sure birds are not on their backs
    • Don’t overfill or overheat – this introduces stress and leads to weight loss
    • Too few birds per module and they are not buffered and can get injured
    • Consider their temperature and ventilation & keeping this constant

The bottom line…

The downgrading of meat resulting from bruising or maiming or even loss through DOA (dead on arrival) – reduces profit.

Your job of stockmanship right up until:

  • handing over to logistical partners
  • slaughter, or;
  • sale

…has a direct impact on your profit.

Be well aware of where gains and losses are incurred.

Remain vigilant and coordinated amongst all hands-on parties in the process.

And now over to you:

Are you new to stockmanship and need tight procedural planning to succeed?

Have you made costly handling errors before and now look to improve?

Either way, write me back and let me know.

I read every comment.

Speak soon,

Temi

Go to chapter 20 of this eBook by clicking this link…“Agri-accounting & Bookkeeping”. Click here to find the next chapter.

Filed Under: The Ultimate Business Guide To Poultry Farming

Temi Cole
Mr. Temi Cole
🥇Author, The Big Book Project

Thanks for visiting my website.
"Let's make poultry profitable together!"
Begin by becoming a subscriber to my
newsletter, then when you're ready, join my interactive online course. Also, if you want me to help review & build your investment plans let's meet. Until then, stick around and enjoy this site - in which you'll find 300+ learning resources inc. articles, content hubs, sample plans, data sets, calculators and templates. Take a look around and enjoy the conversation..

My Story Start Here Free eBook LinkedIn

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Temi Cole
Mr. Temi Cole
Author, The Big Book Project

Thanks for visiting my website.
"Let's make poultry profitable together!"
Begin by becoming a subscriber to my investor newsletter, online courses and consulting . Within this site you'll find 300+ learning resources inc. articles, content hubs, sample plans, data sets, calculators and templates. Take a look around and enjoy the conversation..

My Story Start Here Free eBook

eBook Chapters

  • Chapter 1: Advantages of layer farming
  • Chapter 2: Why Write A Business Plan For Your Farm?
  • Chapter 3: Land farm decisions
  • Chapter 4: Calculating floor space
  • Chapter 5: Deep Litter Calculator
  • Chapter 6: All-In-All-Out broilers
  • Chapter 7: Finance, funding, loans & grants
  • Chapter 8: Agri Value Chain
  • Chapter 9: Agribusiness Project Management
  • Chapter 10: SWOT & PESTLE analysis
  • Chapter 11: Opportunity cost
  • Chapter 12: Poultry Project Reporter 2.0
  • Chapter 13: Projecting layer egg production
  • Chapter 14: Calculating broiler profits
  • Chapter 15: Broiler farm record keeping
  • Chapter 16: The real cost of broiler feed
  • Chapter 17: Layer production profit
  • Chapter 18: Broiler yield
  • Chapter 19: Preparing your broilers for processing
  • Chapter 20: Agri-Accounting & Bookkeeping
  • Chapter 21: Business Case
  • Chapter 22: Poultry Project Hub
  • Chapter 23: Exclusive Poultry Training
  • Chapter 24: How Grants & Subsidies (Really) Work...

 

 

Copyright © 2025


Next-level agribusiness training &
startup tools.

Learn


Poultry Learning Center
Blog
Poultry eBook
Poultry Courses Online

Company


Start
About
Contact

Connect


LinkedIn
Twitter
Pinterest


Log in

Join 9,000 Subscribers…

“…consists of very useful tips for anyone who is planning to start a project…easy to follow.”

– Dr Bonile Jack-Pama, PhD

🥇 The #1 Community for Poultry Entrepreneurs

The most in-depth guide to poultry entrepreneurship anywhere, right now.

“…marvelous and electrifying content. It answers most of the questions I have been looking out for. Thanks a lot.”

– Kwasi Jones

Receive all the ‘insider tips’ they never speak about to help you:

  • ✔️ Write a plan that actually gets investment
  • ✔️ Navigate around common pitfalls of the business
  • ✔️ Take away strategies from top poultry thinkers
  • ✔️ Soak up poultry success from around the world
  • ✔️ Discover the latest technologies & equipment
  • ✔️ Learn from accredited poultry experts daily

Just click the button below to start…⤵