JUNE 2024
Analysis of the Broiler Chicken Dead-on-Arrival (DOA) Rate in Relation to Normal Transport Conditions in Practice in Germany
Julia Gickel,Christian Visscher,Nicole Kemper andBirgit Spindler
1WING (Science and Innovation for Sustainable Poultry Production), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 49456 Bakum, Germany
2Institute for Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany
3Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30173 Hannover, Germany
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In total, around 631 million broilers were slaughtered in Germany in 2022. This evaluation included data of approx. 198 million broilers of different ages and breeds that were transported in Germany in 2022 (31% of all cases of broiler chicken transport in 2022). The aim of this study was to analyze German broiler chicken transport (n = 14,054) to the slaughterhouse between January 2022 and May 2023 with regard to the dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate and the possible influencing factors. Therefore, the relation between the total amount of animals per transport, the duration and distance of the transport, the planned stocking density in the transport cages, the average daily temperature and time of day and season of the transport as well as the DOA rate were statistically evaluated. The results showed a mean DOA rate of 0.09% (SD 0.09). Transport conducted at midday (11:00 to 17:00) showed higher DOA rates (p < 0.05) than transport at other times (day split into 6 h intervals). The highest mean DOA rate (0.10%) was found in the fall, followed by the winter, while transport in the spring and summer resulted in the lowest DOA rate (p < 0.05). All in all, the relatively low DOA rate (%) in Germany indicates the good standard of their broiler transport compared to available data from research in other European countries.
Keywords: slaughterhouse; broiler; transport; DOA; influencing factors; duration; distance; temperature