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Code of Veterinary Practice For Poultry Processing Plant

Annex 2

MOISTURE CONTROL

Poultry regulations specify an allowable moisture absorption rate of not greater
than 8 per cent during washing and chilling. Plant management is responsible
for ensuring that washing, chilling, and draining procedures result in allowable
moisture absorption.

Procedure.

Moisture tests should be conducted as follows:-
a) Select a bird from eviscerating line before final washer, count five birds and
remove fifth. If fifth bird is unsuitable for sampling (cuts, tears, or missing
parts), next bird shall be selected.
b) Identify each bird with a numbered tag, weigh without giblets, and record
weigh. Tags must be with birds on first and second weighing.
c) Rehang test bird on eviscerating line to continue normal operations washing,
chilling, draining etc.
d) Repeat above procedures until a 10 bird sample is complete.
e) Remove birds at end of drip line or last readily accessible point before packing.
Test birds must not be allowed extra draining.
f) Reweigh each bird (without giblets) and record weigh. When more than 10
birds are tagged to prevent an incomplete test due to loss of tags (birds),
record weigh of first 10 birds recovered. Void the test when less than eight-
tags (birds) are recovered.
g) Remove tags, allow birds to proceed through normal packing operations,
and record time of test completion.

Calculation
Percent of moisture absorption may be determined by subtracting birds’ total
weigh (grams) before washing from birds’ total weigh after washing, chilling and
draining, divide difference into first weight and multiply by 100.

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