<![CDATA[Feed withdrawal before transportation is typically applied in broiler chickens to reduce gastrointestinal content and potential carcass contamination during slaughter; however, prolonged withdrawal may affect physiological conditions, body weight loss, and carcass yield. In this study, the effects of different durations of feed withdrawal before transportation on body weight loss, blood glucose concentration, and carcass percentage in Cobb broiler chickens were evaluated. A total of 126 28-day-old broilers with an average body weight of 1.4 ± 0.14 kg were assigned to a completely randomized design consisting of three treatments: no feed withdrawal, 4 h of feed withdrawal, and 8 h of feed withdrawal before transportation. Each treatment consisted of three replicates, with 14 birds per replicate, resulting in nine experimental units. The birds were transported for 2 h, after which body weight, blood glucose concentration, and carcass percentage were measured before and/or after transportation. The data were evaluated descriptively, and the carcass percentage did not significantly differ among the treatments (P>0.05). During transportation, the temperature remained within the normal range, although the relative humidity was relatively high because of rainy weather conditions. The body weight loss was lowest in the 4-h-old group (2.24 ± 0.26%), whereas the body weight loss was greatest in the 8-h-old group (3.69 ± 0.72%). The blood glucose concentration decreased after transportation in all the treatments, with the lowest posttransportation value observed in the 8 h feed withdrawal group (248.90 ± 31.50 mg/dL). The percentage of carcasses ranged from 68.25 ± 4.07% to 70.39 ± 3.36% and did not differ significantly among the treatments. These findings suggest that 4 h of feed withdrawal before transportation may reduce body weight loss and maintain blood glucose concentrations within the normal physiological range; however, improving the carcass percentage should not be concluded because the carcass yield was not significantly affected by treatment.]]>
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