O. V. Zinina, E. A. Vishnyakova
South Ural State University (National Research University), Chelyabinsk, Russia
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Volume 26 No. 8
Date of paper submission: 24.05.2026, date of review: 07.06.2026, date of acceptance: 30.06.2026.
Published: 08/31/2026
Abstract. Poultry farming is one of the most dynamically developing and profitable sectors of the agro-industrial complex. However, the intensification of production is accompanied by an increase in the number of defects in broiler chicken carcasses, causing significant economic losses to enterprises. In this regard, systematization of knowledge about the types of defects, their causes, and effective methods of prevention is a relevant scientific and practical task. The purpose of the study is to summarize and systematize data on defects in broiler chicken carcasses, establish the causes of their occurrence, and develop scientifically based approaches to prevention based on an analysis of domestic and international literary sources. Research methods. The study was conducted as a review and analytical work using content analysis methods. Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals (Scopus, Web of Science, Russian Science Citation Index), dissertations, conference proceedings, and other available information sources were analyzed. Results. It has been established that poultry carcass defects are divided into antemortem (bruises, cellulitis, hematomas, myopathies such as “wooden breast” and “white stripes”, PSE- and RSE-meat) and process-related (hemorrhages, fractures, skin ruptures, underplucking, overscalding). Group A critical defects primarily occur during the growing and processing stages. The use of stress correctors during the preslaughter period can reduce the incidence of critical defects. The greatest number of defects is observed during the feather removal stage, necessitating the modernization of this technological process. A systematic approach to quality management, including a set of stress-reducing measures, feeding optimization, and the use of statistical control methods, can significantly reduce product defects and improve the economic efficiency of poultry farms. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the comprehensive generalization and systematization of scientific data on defects in broiler chicken carcasses, which makes it possible to establish patterns of their occurrence, classification features, and impact on the quality characteristics of finished products.
Keywords: poultry meat, antemortem defect, process-related defect, stress, cross, meat storage
Acknowledgements. The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation No. 26-26-20027, https://rscf.ru/project/26-26-20027/
For citation: Zinina O. V., Vishnyakova E. A. Broiler chicken carcass defects: types, causes, and prevention. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (08): 1471‒1490. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-08-1471-1490 (In Russ.)
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