Mechanized Defeathering and Egg Sorting

Efficiency Unleashed: Poultry Processing, Simplified

Mechanized defeathering and egg sorting technology revolutionizes poultry processing by streamlining two critical aspects of the production process. These machines complete the feather removal process in just 30 seconds. Moreover, removed feathers are collected through an opening below the machine, ensuring cleanliness and hygiene in the processing area. In the egg sorting process, advanced sorting systems equipped with various sensors meticulously detect quality parameters such as weight, color, shape, and cracks. Operators can easily inspect eggs using a tubular lamp while handling the infeed and packing, ensuring that only eggs meeting specific quality standards are selected.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•9

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 9/9

Adults 18 and over: Positive high

The poor: No impact

Under 18: Positive medium

Women: Positive high

Farmer climate change readiness: Significant improvement

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Environmental health: Moderately improves environmental health

Water use: A bit less water used

Problem

Inefficient Manual Processing: Time-consuming and inaccurate manual defeathering and egg sorting processes reduce overall efficiency.
Occupational Hazards and High Costs: Manual defeathering poses hazards, and egg sorting incurs high handling costs, impacting safety and financial efficiency.
Delayed Processing and Lower Profits: Delayed chicken processing reduces productivity, feed efficiency, and leads to rushed sales at lower prices, affecting profitability.
Inconsistent Grade Requirements: Manual methods struggle to consistently meet grade requirements for different poultry types and egg grades, impacting market acceptance.
Breakage and Losses: Manual egg sorting increases breakage risk, causing losses and affecting the overall quality of graded eggs.

Solution

Efficient Defeathering: Mechanized machines remove feathers in 30 seconds, enhancing productivity.
Automated Egg Sorting: Precision grading with sensors eliminates manual inaccuracies.
Timely Processing, High Quality: Quick defeathering maintains product quality, avoiding rushed sales.
Cost Reduction, Premium Pricing: Automated sorting reduces costs, attracting premium prices for eggs.
Versatile Poultry Handling: Machines efficiently handle various poultry types, reducing manual challenges.

Key points to design your project

Introducing mechanized defeathering and egg sorting technology revolutionizes poultry farming, offering a practical and efficient approach to processing poultry products. With its ability to enhance efficiency and productivity, mechanized defeathering and egg sorting technology promises to significantly impact the poultry industry, addressing key challenges and advancing modern farming practices.

To integrate this technology into your project, create a list of project activities and prerequisites:

When investing in mechanized equipment poultry farmers must have a good business plan with reliable market demand and prices.
Match production volumes with machine capacities,
There is a need for technically competent personnel.
It is necessary to understand environmental regulations and establish waste management procedures for successful mechanical defeathering.

A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

To complement the effectiveness of Mechanized Defeathering and Egg Sorting, it is important to consider the scale of production and associate with Value Addition and Storage Techniques technology

Cost: $$$ 250—550 USD

defeathering machine

ROI: $$$ 15—20 %

ROI for defeathering business

5500—7000 USD

Egg sorting machine

IP

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 8 out of 9

Uncontrolled environment: tested

Level of use 9 out of 9

Common use by intended users, in the real world

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Botswana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Burundi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Central African Republic	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Gabon	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Kenya	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Madagascar	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Malawi	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Mozambique	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Niger	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Nigeria	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Rwanda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Sierra Leone	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Somalia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
South Sudan	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Tanzania	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Uganda	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zambia	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid
Semiarid
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Defeathering Process:
- Slaughter chickens and drain blood.
- Scald chickens in hot water (60°C for 2 minutes).
- Place scalded chickens into the defeathering machine.
- The machine, equipped with rotating metal discs and rubber fingers, completes the feather removal process in 30 seconds.
- Defeathered chickens are then passed on for evisceration.
Egg Sorting Process:
- Collect eggs from various poultry types, including hen, quail, duck, and goose eggs.
- Use an egg sorting machine equipped with weight-sensitive belts and sensors.
- The machine detects quality parameters like weight, color, shape, and cracks.
- Calibrate the belts to determine sorting criteria.
- As eggs roll onto designated spaces, operators can visually inspect them with a tubular lamp for candling.
- Sorted eggs are ready for packaging and transportation.
General Requirements:
- Ensure that the capacity of the equipment matches the flock size and production line specifications.
- Have well-trained staff operate the machines.
- Ensure an adequate supply of water and electricity.
- Use specialty slaughtering equipment to minimize animal suffering and ensure meat safety.
- Apply coating or move defeathered chickens to a filleting line for preservation.
- For eggs, wash them using an odorless detergent solution with cool water and consider spraying with food-grade oil to reduce moisture loss and bacterial growth.
- Regularly clean processing equipment made of stainless steel to maintain quality standards.
Post-Processing:
- For chicken, store the processed meat in a fridge or freezer for preservation.
- Adhere to environmental regulations and establish waste management procedures for successful mechanical defeathering operations.