Brazil’s broiler industry is recognized for its scale and efficiency, but beneath the numbers lies a production system shaped by persistent challenges, many of which North American poultry producers and processors will find familiar. From managing feed costs and supporting muscle quality to improving livability, Brazil’s broiler producers are rewriting the playbook on how to create high-performing, high-quality birds in a sometimes chaotic environment.

As the second-largest poultry producer globally and the leader in broiler meat exports, Brazil’s reputation is often linked to trade. But what’s more compelling—and more relevant to US processors—is the planning and practical actions necessary to meet rising expectations for bird quality, welfare, and economic viability.

Health and biosecurity

When highly pathogenic avian influenza burst onto the scene, producers and government officials alike in Brazil took notice, stepping up efforts to mitigate the risk of the virus impacting flocks. Despite efforts, on May 15, 2025, Brazil confirmed its first-ever case of HPAI. Trade was suspended, birds were culled, but thanks to the quick activation of the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Contingency Plan, on June 18 the country declared itself “bird flu free” and aimed at resuming exports; the World Organization for Animal Health confirmed the designation shortly after the announcement, demonstrating that quick action makes a difference in containing the spread. 

Brazil’s HPAI plans and response are a good example for poultry industries around the world. Swift, concentrated effort with cooperation from every angle of the industry makes a difference when it comes to disease response.

Muscle myopathies and meat downgrades

Brazil enforces one of the most rigorous meat inspection systems in the world. While this ensures high food safety standards, it also results in significant meat losses due to strict condemnation criteria. Wooden breast, white striping, skin lesions, footpad dermatitis, arthritis and other muscle myopathies plague processors. These quality issues reduce yields, affect consumer satisfaction and lead to costly downgrades or condemnations at the plant.

Effective farm management and transportation practices are crucial for minimizing processing losses. These are approaches used in Brazil to help ensure meat quality.

• Proper fasting and transport timing: The ideal pre-slaughter fasting window is between 6-8 hours, including catching and transport time. This window can reduce contamination during processing and minimize carcass loss due to excessive gastrointestinal content. Transport must be done carefully to preserve bird welfare and physical integrity.
• Well-trained catching teams: Properly trained and supervised teams help prevent fractures, bruises and contusions–common causes of partial carcass condemnations.
• Appropriate density and ventilation: Maintaining ideal bird density per square meter and ensuring adequate airflow are critical to reduce heat stress and prevent skin and foot lesions such as footpad dermatitis.
• Proper litter management: Litter must remain dry, loose and evenly distributed in the barn throughout the production cycle. Excessive moisture, poor ventilation and fecal accumulation increase the risk of dermatitis, bacterial contamination and microbial load, all of which impact carcass quality at slaughter.
• Effective downtime between flocks: Ensuring the barn has adequate downtime with thorough cleaning and disinfection between flocks is essential to reduce pathogen pressure and prevent systemic contamination that could lead to carcass condemnation.

Nutritional support

Nutrition has a direct impact on carcass and footpad quality and is a strategic tool to reduce condemnations, skin lesions and structural alterations that compromise processing outcomes. The use of high-quality, scientifically supported feed additives fosters strong muscles, tissues and fibers and helps to reduce visual defects and carcass rejections at the plant.

• Trace mineral supplementation: Field and university trials have shown that proper trace mineral balance, including organic zinc, copper, and manganese in the bis-chelated form, can reduce the severity of myopathies by as much as 44%. The use of bis-chelated trace minerals in production diets has been linked to improved muscle fiber integrity, reduced oxidative stress and better overall meat consistency, all of which are critical to meeting modern quality standards and growth performance.
• Antioxidant and muscle fiber protection: Oxidative stress is a known contributing factor to myopathies like wooden breast and white striping. Nutritional strategies that include antioxidants (e.g., vitamin E, selenium and adequate methionine levels) help protect muscle fibers and preserve meat texture and visual appearance.
• High-quality raw ingredients and enzyme supplementation: Poorly processed feed ingredients with low digestibility can trigger intestinal inflammation, which may contribute to systemic lesions and compromised skin condition. The use of digestive enzymes, such as proteases, improves feed utilization and reduces inflammatory residues that affect peripheral tissues.

The takeaway for North American processors

What can North American poultry processors learn from Brazil’s production strategy?

While the markets may differ, the underlying pressures are the same: economic sustainability, meat quality and bird health. Brazil’s proactive response, centered on biosecurity, protecting meat quality and precision nutrition, offers a model for how upstream decisions can lead to better downstream results.

Processors who collaborate with nutritionists and live production teams to address challenges like muscle myopathies, variability and mortality may see more than just improved quality—they may gain operational consistency, higher yield and better ROI.