Big bird robot testing could revamp chicken factories in US

American chicken producers are turning to robots to help churn out meat, as they deal with the pandemic, worker shortages and rising costs. — Bloomberg

The third-biggest US chicken producer plans to test robots at a "big bird” processing plant in Texas, a first for the industry if successful.

The push by Sanderson Farms Inc. for more automation comes at a cost of US$5mil (RM20.68mil) a plant and could replace as many as 75 workers per facility, Chief Executive Officer Joe Sanderson said.

The company already uses robots at three plants tasked with removing bones from small and medium sized birds for white meat. It now aims to do the same with chickens nine pounds or bigger.