Abstract
The functional effectiveness of an integrated quality management system (QMS) in
broiler production has been analysed in the thesis, with special consideration of the
primary stage of production and the treatment stage slaughtering.
Results of other scientific studies have been used for verification of the findings. That
comparison revealed that the data regularly and completely recorded on the broiler farms
and in the slaughterhouses were sufficiently qualified to produce, after systematisation
and analysis, results similar to those of scientific studies. Therefore it was possible to
study the quality assurance system (QAS) on the representative basis of integrated
broiler production.
From February 1998 to March 1999, four broiler farms each with nine fattening cycles as
well as two slaughterhouses were included in the analysis. Altogether 2,033,044 chicks
were housed, 1,950,492 of which then came for slaughter. The average fattening period
was 34.28 days and the average stocking density on the broiler farms was 33.88 kg/m².
Overall animal losses ( = 5.68 %) were subdivided into losses during fattening on the
broiler farm ( = 3.38%), transport losses ( = 0.32 %) and rejected carcasses ( = 1.98 %).
The average live weight of the delivered and marketable animals for slaughter was
1,459.53 g. Considering an average carcass weight of 990.87 g, the carcass yield was
67,89 %. Altogether 99.38 % of the slaughtered broilers were grade A.
Questionnaires were used for recording the characteristics of the applied QASs at the
two process stages.
A QAS based on parameters from production regulations was used at the primary stage
of production. These were derived from legal requirements, the state of the art, good
practical experience and affected requirements of quality management standards. The
requirements for broiler production were put in a clear and readily comprehensible form
and suitable for direct implementation by the farm operators. Therefore it was
recommended to use on the farm a QMS that is oriented right to the needs of primary
production. This can also be effected by using a quality management standard such as
DIN EN ISO 9001-2000/12. In that case, however, the farms should have a certain size
with several lines of production.
At the treatment stage, a QAS was applied that used the general parameters from
international standards for process structuring. The requirements of international quality
management standards were found to be quite suitable for organising the technological
processes of broiler meat production in a safe and transparent way.
That is why integrated QASs should prefer a combination of specifically designed QASs
for primary agricultural production and the use of international quality management
standards in the subsequent technological processes of treatment and processing.
For assessing the effectiveness of the currently used QASs, data already existing and
suitable for assessment of the process and result of production were collected on the
broiler farms and in the slaughterhouses. With the information from primary agricultural
production it was possible to obtain reliable information on the length of the fattening
period, stocking density and different categories of animal losses. Due to partly
incomplete documentation, however, no safe information was obtained as to feed
consumption, water consumption or use of medication. The data from the
slaughterhouses were recorded and analysed schematically on the basis of the slaughter
accounts that were presented completely and suitable for unmistakable interpretation.
The rejection data from official poultry meat inspection were also used for verification with
other scientific studies. Recording and analysis of the causes for rejection revealed that
a number of findings, due to their rare identification, would hardly be relevant to process
assessment and/or process optimisation, while others were diagnosed quite often.
Therefore a methodical distinction was made between ?major causes of rejection? and
?other causes of rejection?. Such weighting was not part of the presentation of results of
the official poultry meat inspection. It was recommended, however, particularly for
assessing the effectiveness of the production process and, hence, of the applied QAS. In
that context it would also be necessary to strive for a readily comprehensible
presentation of the results and for the introduction of statistical parameters and warning
limits for the various major causes of rejection.
Finally it should be pointed out that integrated QASs over several stages are suitable for
guaranteeing high process reliability. On condition that each link of the process chain
satisfies the requirements, a product from such process can be assessed more reliably
than a comparable product from a less controlled process. When establishing,
maintaining and continuously improving QASs certainly attention has to be paid to the
fact that at each process stage a QAS must be applied that is in line with the needs of the
respective stage. In an integrated quality assurance system it is also necessary to
include the results of seemingly marginal processes into the assessment of processes,
products and, hence, the applied QASs.
An integrated quality management system covering several production stages must be
kept open and designed dynamically, as in view of meeting the need for continuous
improvement it will never be complete and final. |
