COMPARATIVE RATE OF DECOMPOSITION IN MARKET POULTRY. 



9 



when the contingencies of reasonable trade conditions are met. 

 Therefore the laboratory findings on 11 shipments have been aver- 

 aged and charted graphically for convenience of presentation. 



The laboratory examinations began in the packing house, the first 

 being made after the birds were chilled and ready for boxing. The 

 results on the acidity of the fat and the number of bacteria in 1 gram 

 of flesh from the body wall are shown in sample 1 of figures 1 and 

 3. As was to be expected, after only twenty-four or forty-eight hours 

 under excellent conditions the four methods of dressing show prac- 



FIG. 1. Changes in acidity of body fat, comparing four methods of dressing (average data). 



tically no differences in the acidity of the fat. The full-drawn fowls 

 had a slightly higher acid figure, but the difference is very slight. 

 The number of bacteria in the body walls varies widely with the mode 

 of dressing, the undrawn having the lowest and the full drawn the 

 highest number of organisms, even in the packing-house samples. 



The second samples were examined after the fowls had reached the 

 commission man. At this time there was still but little difference 

 78932 Cir. 7011 2 



