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Agricultural Careers Poultry Processor
By Dr. Frank Flanders and Anna Burgess Georgia
Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia
Department of Education June 2005
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Job Duties Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean, hygienic environment
• Slaughter, dress, cut, prepare and track poultry
• Clean equipment and work area
• Unload live birds and load processed poultry for
  shipment
• Write delivery orders
• Pack processed poultry in bags or cartons
• Keep records of the products

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Qualities and Skills
Poultry processors should have a good eye in
selecting quality poultry products. They should
have a good understanding of the anatomy of the
birds. They need to be able to work quickly and
efficiently because generally they work on a
production line which goes at a fast pace.
Poultry processors should be able to work well
with others and be problem solvers. Record
keeping skills are important, especially in large
processing plants where thousands of birds are
processed daily.
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Salary
On average a poultry cutter and trimmer makes
23,000 to 34,000 annually. However, geographic
region, education, and experience have an effect
on salary.
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Work Environment

• Indoors in a cool factory
• Must work foul odors
• Standing for long periods
• Outdoors loading and unloading
• Must work well with other people
• Unable to take many breaks with in the 8 hour
  shift
• Would be required to work with dangerous machinery

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Becoming a Poultry Processor
Education beyond high school is not necessary,
but a degree in Agriculture, Food Science or
Poultry Science would be very helpful if
advancement is desired. In general, a college
degree would increase the chances of higher
pay. A poultry processor may begin in unloading
and loading or on the production line, but
advance to a supervisor position or
administrative position through experience and
education.
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Career Resources
Meat Poultry Internet http//www.meatpoultry.c
om/ Meat Process Internet http//www.meatprocess
.com/ Poultry Processing Industry
e-Tool Internet http//www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/p
oultry/ U.S. Poultry and Egg Association Internet
http//www.poultryegg.org/ International
Association for Food Protection Internet
http//www.foodprotection.org/main/default.asp