Model units were lated according to the number of 3.5 pound broilers 

 I live weight) and 6.0 pound fowl processed per hour of operation. These 

 were selected as most representative of the market classes handled by New 

 England plants. 



Most plants producing eviscerated poultry find the cutting up of a portion 

 of their output both a convenience and a necessity. Hence, the models pro- 

 vide for this function to the extent of 20 percent of aggregate volume. 



Wage scales and labor conditions used in this study approximate those 

 found in modern plants. For operations at 100 percent of capacity, a 5-day, 

 40-hour operating week and 247 working days per year were assumed. 

 This allows for holidays and paid vacations for employees averaging 14 

 additional days per worker per year. 



Wage rates for plant workers were established at $1.35 per hour for men 

 and S1.20 per hour for women, plus 5 percent fringe benefits. The ratio of 

 women to men was about 9:5. Thus, the average wage cost per hour, in- 

 cluding fringe benefits, was $1.30 per hour. Time-and-a-half was assumed 

 beyond 40 hours per week. 



Single shift operations were assumed for all model plants. Further econ- 

 omies could be achieved by the introduction of a second and possibly a 

 third shift provided certain related problems could be resolved. Even though 

 the same physical plant set-up could be employed, more labor and equip- 

 ment would be required for assembling and distributing and for duplicate 

 sets of in-plant operating and supervisory personnel. Despite more rapid 

 depreciation of equipment and increases in repairs and maintenance, a 

 net decrease in average unit cost would probably result. Some plant oper- 

 ators indicate that the principal deterrents to multiple-shift operations are 

 the difficulties in duplicating an experienced supervisory group and addi- 

 tional operating crews of equal capability during the less desirable (from 

 the employee's standpoint) evening and night shifts. However, this may be 

 more important as a short-run rather than a long-run consideration. 



The level of technology employed in model plants approximates that in 

 operating New England plants. In the future, additional efficiencies in plant 

 operations may be achieved with new technology involving more extensive 

 mechanization. Some is already in planning or production by equipment- 

 manufacturing firms. The principal areas which seem to warrant increased 

 attention are receiving, cooling, packing,-^ cutting-up and freezing. Attention 

 to these operations may enable further economies to be realized at each 

 successive size level and even well beyond the 10,000 broilers per hour pro- 

 jection. This could occur even though current technology employed in the 

 dressing and eviscerating operations alone may not indicate such to be 

 probable. 



^'•Tlic folliiwiiiii |iul)licaliiiri, released after this study liad lieeri completed, .4ioiild 

 \tv valuable to |)lant operators: Childs, R. E., and P. D. Rodgers: Methods and Equip- 

 mt/il for Ice-Packing Poultry. Mktng. Res. Div., Agr'l. Mktng. Service, U.S.D.A., in 

 cooperation with University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Station. 

 Mktng. Res. Rpt. No. 242. Dec. 1958. 



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