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1. Data were collected (1981‐82) from four commercial processing plants in different states of Australia. Total downgrading was classified into damage occurring on the farm, bruising and processing plant damage. 2. The average proportion of birds downgraded each day (TDG) for the four plants varied from 9·6 to 15·7% of production and the largest component was the proportion bruised (3·5 to 8·0% of daily production). 3. The distribution of bruises was similar for the four plants, with breast and leg bruises predominating. 4. There was no correlation between the processing plant line speed and the TDG. 5. No correlation was found between the Performance Indication Factor, a measure of efficiency of food utilisation, and the TDG. 6. Records were available for 77 flocks processed over two consecutive working days. Correlation was low (r = 045) between the TDG for the first and the second day's processing suggesting that farm practices were unlikely to affect the incidence of bruising.