Effects of replacement finisher feed and length of feed withdrawal on broiler carcass yield and bacteria recovery.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of a replacement finisher feed (RF) on carcass yield and carcass bacteria recovery. RF is a commercial formulation of a D-glucose polymer (maltodextrin) with added salts and vitamins. Commercial male broilers (41 d of age) were given either RF or control-feed (traditional starter feed) for 8 h, followed by feed withdrawal for 0, 4, 8, or 12 h before processing. During processing, whole carcass rinses (WCR) of pre-eviscerated (feathers, feet, and heads removed) and eviscerated carcasses were analyzed for recovery of bacteria. Body weight at initiation of feed withdrawal (catch weight) or at slaughter (dock weight) did not differ significantly due to type of feed. Live shrink, as a percentage of live weight, increased significantly with time off feed. Birds fed RF exhibited significantly lower live shrink than the birds fed the control feed at 8 and 12 h after feed withdrawal. This difference between types of feed, RF or control, was approximately 0.1% per hour of feed withdrawal. Type of feed or length of feed withdrawal did not affect Campylobacter, coliform, or Escherichia coli counts recovered from WCR of pre-eviscerated or eviscerated carcasses. These data demonstrate that feeding RF to broilers for 8 h before initiation of feed withdrawal may reduce live shrink without affecting carcass Campylobacter, coliforms, or E. coli recovered.