Tensile strength of broiler intestines as influenced by age and feed withdrawal

Length of preslaughter feed withdrawal has been linked to contamination problems in broiler processing plants. Also, excessive feed withdrawal times are often subjectively associated with increased intestinal fragility during automated evisceration. In addition to intestinal breakage, bile contamination also increases in flocks subjected to long feed withdrawal periods. In this study, tensile strength of the intestines increased with age, with male broilers exhibiting greater hindgut strength than females. On the other hand, tensile strength of the intestines decreased and gall bladder size increased significantly as the length of feed withdrawal extended beyond 14 hr. Feed withdrawal programs must be designed to maintain the integrity of the digestive system in addition to targeting physical emptying.