| Popis: |
A study was conducted to determine the effects of hand-held inside bird washers on the microbiological and hygienic quality of turkey carcasses. These washers, one per eviscerating line, are simple water wands that discharge water into the body cavity of each turkey as it moves on the eviscerating line. Total viable plate counts were made from calcium alginate swabs taken in a 10 cm2 area adjacent to the left kidney. A sterile template was used to standardize the area to be swabbed. Two hundred turkeys were sampled after washers were used, and 200 were sampled after washers were not used. Bacterial counts from the two groups were not significantly different (P>.05). Daily head counts of processed turkeys were recorded, and daily turbidity values of prechiller water were determined for 20 consecutive days of processing after hand-held washers were used and for 20 consecutive days of processing after hand-held washers were not used. No statistical difference was found between the groups for days when the washers were used or not used (P>.05). It was concluded that hand-held inside bird washers had no effect on microbiological or hygienic turkey carcass quality as determined by total bacterial counts made from the body cavity or turbidity value of the prechiller water. |
