PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A DE-FEATHERING MACHINE WITH SCALDING TANK

Abstract

Studies have shown that mechanical means of de-feathering will lead to an increased poultry processing rate. This study evaluated a de-feathering machine with scalding tank. The machine was evaluated in terms of machine plucking time, machine capacity and machine efficiency. A  completely randomized experimental design was carried out using three poultry birds (broiler, cockerel and layer) and three scalding temperatures (60, 70 and 80 ^oC) at machine constant speed of 480 rpm and at three replicates. The average machine plucking time obtained were 21.0, 20.6 and 23.3 s for broiler, layer and cockerel respectively. The average machine capacities were 175, 179 and 159 birds/hr for broiler, layer and cockerel birds respectively while the average machine efficiencies were 95, 93 and 90% for broiler, layer and cockerel birds respectively. The machine plucking time reduced from 28 s to 19 s with an increase in scalding temperature from 60 to 80^oC for the different poultry breeds. The highest machine efficiency obtained were 96, 94 and 95% for broiler, layer and cockerel birds respectively at 70^oC temperature. The machine capacity increased from 131 to 197 birds/hr with an increase in temperature from 60 to 80^oC for the different poultry breeds. The optimum machine capacity was obtained at 80^oC with values 194, 197 and 180 birds/hr for broiler, layer and cockerel birds respectively.