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Code of Veterinary Practice For Poultry Processing Plant

- Cuticle (epidermis) is removed - loses colour.
- Easy picking - damage from pickers limited and few residual
feathers.
- Increases drying and discolouration of skin.
b) Soft scald (Semi-scald): 50 to 54.5°C
- Cuticle (epidermis) intact.
- Harder to defeather - extra pickers required may increase
skin damage.
- More desirable colour.

4.0 DEFEATHERING, HEAD AND FEET REMOVAL

4.1 Continuous collection and removal of feather from the defeathering
and scalding areas shall be carried out without contamination of
product or the processing area.
4.2 Feathers should be removed from the areas for treatment or
disposal. Drains in plucking areas leading to waste water disposal
system should be effectively screened to exclude feathers.
4.3 Containers to receive condemned, inedible or contaminated
materials should be provided throughout the premises. A container,
drain or mechanical removal system should be positioned at both
the puller and foot unloader to ensure that all heads and feet fall
directly into them.

4.4 Containers used for condemned, inedible or contaminated materials
shall be identified by the word “Inedible” clearly marked in a red or
other contrasting colour and should not be used for handling edible
products.
4.5 Unless otherwise approved, heads shall be removed in the
defeathering section.
4.6 Unless otherwise approved, feet shall be removed before
evisceration of the carcass.
4.7 Where manual processing involving total immersion scalding
and rotary plucking is carried out, feet may be removed in the
evisceration section.
4.8 Where and approved programme of production enables the practice
of dressing for a market with head and feet on:

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