A framework for delivery scheduling in the poultry industry

This paper presents a framework for scheduling the collection of broiler chickens from poultry houses (SCPH) and delivering them to abattoirs, which is especially suitable for small- and medium-size businesses. Many such companies in Brazil draw up SCPH manually. Computational implementation provides a deterministic simulator for the process. By using this tool, companies can adopt scheduling strategies taking into account the proper supply, the holding-time and the heat stress of the birds. The final objective is to reduce losses due to dead on arrival (DOA) at the abattoir and weight loss by excessive fasting. The application considers a 15-day schedule of an abattoir, the first two days of which are presented in detail. The use of the simulator allows greater control of the events and enables smaller poultry stocks at the abattoir. This better control and the hiring of at least one more team of bird catchers would lead to a significant improvement in the current collection system. On a conservative estimate, gains would result in, at least, an extra 49 metric tons annually of live chicken for processing at the abattoir studied.