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Development of a Prototype Carcass Cleaning Machine

USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box 5677 Athens, GA 30613; Phone: (706) 546-3132; FAX: (706) 546-3367

Correspondence: A. D. Shackelford

An experimental carcass cleaning machine was designed and constructed in a pilot setting, then installed and field-tested on a commercial broiler processing (i. e., picking) line operating at 160 birds per min. Powered brushes and water sprays provided the means for removal of dirt and fecal material from the thighs, vent and breast areas of the carcass. With a brush length of 2.4 m, each carcass was scrubbed for approximately 6 s. The powered brushes rotated at 65 rpm and provided a constant downward cleaning force on the carcasses. With brushes 25.4 cm in diameter, commercial, on-line testing produced a machine effluent of 1754 mg total solids/L. Increasing the brush diameter to 35.6 cm and using larger diameter, hence stiffer bristles, increased the total solids content of the effluent water to 2135 mg/L. Machine operation also significantly reduced the total solids content of scalder water. Furthermore, visual appearance of the skin was not adversely affected by the use of the larger brushes and stiffer bristles.

Key Words: Broiler processing • carcass cleaning • scalder effluent • total solids