Yields and Composition of Edible and Inedible By-Products of Broilers Processed at 6, 7, and 8 Weeks of Age

Percent yields and nutrient composition were determined on inedible by-products and giblets of broilers processed at 6, 7, and 8 weeks of age. All inedible by-products and giblets were collected from 120 broilers (mixed sexes) for each age group and percent yield determined as a function of live weight. Wet yields of the various products were: blood, 3.1%; feathers, 21.3%; feet, 4.1%; heads, 3.0%; necks, 3.6%; gizzards, 3.0%; livers, 2.0%; hearts, .6%; and viscera, 8.0% for the 7-week-old birds. Some offal yield differences were noted among the three age groups. Moisture content of the offal averaged approximately 70% for most products. Exceptions were blood (Ca. 84%) and gizzards, feet, and necks (Ca. 60%) moisture. Approximate lipid composition was 17% for neck, gizzards, and hearts; 11% for feet and viscera; 8% for heads and livers; and 1.5% for blood and feathers. On a wet basis, protein content for hearts, blood, and viscera averaged approximately 12%; heads, necks, and gizzards, 15%; feet and livers, 20%; and feathers, 25%.