Overview & Core Concepts
Day 40 marks the completion of the live production cycle. The final birds are cleared from the house, final transport loads are dispatched under thermal protection protocols, and farm-to-plant weighbridge receipts are reconciled to determine total liveweight sold, transport shrink, final cumulative FCR, and European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF).
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Achieving optimal management targets requires strict adherence to environmental parameters.
Why This Matters
Accurate weighbridge reconciliation ensures correct financial payouts and pinpoints shrinkage losses during transit. Immediate batch closure audits provide critical benchmarks for feed efficiency, mortality trends, and financial profitability before starting the turnaround.
Execution Checklist
Observations & Key Indicators
Observe spacing, activity levels, and physical indicators:
Healthy Signs
- Zero birds remaining in the poultry house; all partitions disassembled and stacked.
- Truck transit completed within scheduled time window with dead-on-arrival (DOA) < 0.2%.
- Weighbridge reconciliation matches farm estimate within 1.5–2.0%.
- Final flock FCR and EPEF meet or exceed breeder performance objectives.
Warning Signs
- Transport shrink exceeding 3.5%, indicating transit delays, excessive feed withdrawal, or severe dehydration.
- Plant DOA exceeding 0.4%, pointing to transit heat stress or crate overloading.
- Significant discrepancy (>3%) between farm sample weights and certified weighbridge receipts.
Troubleshooting & Management Practices
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
- Broiler Finisher Feed Standards
- Heat Stress Management & THI Index
- Harvest, Settlement & Batch Economics
Next Stage Handoff (Day 41)
Tomorrow, your operation reaches Day 41. The primary management objective will be:
Apply post-harvest darkling beetle spray while house is warm, remove 100% of used litter off-farm, execute comprehensive dry dust blowdown, and complete high-pressure foam washdown with heavy-duty detergent.