Qualitative changes in poultry slaughtered in Poland between 1996-1999

The results of official post mortem examinations of chickens, hens, turkeys, geese and ducks (a total of 1172.7 million units) conducted by the veterinary inspectors of poultry slaughter houses in Poland between 1996-1999 were analysed. In the 1055.9 min chickens slaughtered, qualitative changes were confirmed in 0.45% of the cases. Excessive emaciation constituted 66.6% cases of disqualification, The next important cause was incomplete bleeding - 24.1% of cases. Qualitative changes are twice as prevalent a cause of disqualification in the case of poultry as infectious and parasitic diseases. Because of the magnitude of the slaughter compared to other species, the disqualification of chickens is the decisive factor in the amount of general losses concerning poultry.