Poultry Evisceration and Cross-Contamination - Effectiveness of Local Air Extraction and Mechanical Barriers

Poultry evisceration poses a risk of airborne carcass contamination with pathogens. While prior research has identified this hazard, ventilation strategies to mitigate it remain underexplored. This study employed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using Star-CCM+ software to evaluate the efficacy of local exhaust ventilation and mechanical barriers against airborne contamination. Particle deposition under various scenarios was assessed. The simulations demonstrated near-complete prevention of both direct and indirect airborne contamination with local exhaust ventilation. Mechanical barriers surrounding carcasses significantly reduced particle deposition (18-96%) on subsequent carcasses, although localized increases in contamination were observed in specific circumstances. Overall, implementing local exhaust ventilation and, to a lesser extent, mechanical barriers, shows promise for minimizing carcass contamination during poultry evisceration. These findings warrant further research to refine ventilation design and operational parameters for enhanced biosecurity in poultry processing facilities.