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5 . 2018

Meat quality in broilers reared in different housing systems

Abstract

Meat quality was assessed in Cobb-500 cage vs. floor-housed broilers slaughtered at 38 vs 49 days of age. Broilers (105 birds per housing system) were reared since 1 day of age in conditions of vivarium of Center for Selection and Genetics «Zagorskoye EPH». Fat content in breast meat was significantly higher (p<0.05) at both slaughter ages in cage-housed broilers (2.0 and 2.7% at slaughter age 38 and 49 days, respec­tively) compared to floor-housed (1.6 and 2.2%). Protein content in breast meat was higher in floor-caged broilers. Total collagen content in thigh meat of floor housed broilers (789.88 mg/100 g) was 1.5 fold higher compared to cage-housed (515.80 mg/100 g, p<0.05). Fatty acid profiles of meat were mostly affected by the type of meat (red vs white) and to a lesser extent by housing system and slaughter age. Water-holding capac­ity in red meat significantly differed between slaughter ages and between housing systems at slaughter age 38 days (р<0.05): at slaughter age 38 days water-holding capacity in red meat was 67.3 in cage-housed broilers vs. 70.1% in floor-housed; at slaughter age 49 days 74.9 vs. 76.0%, respectively. The five-point scores of sensory taste evaluation for the meat of floor-housed broilers (4.55 and 4.91 for breast meat at slaughter ages 38 and 49 days; 4.40 and 4.90 for thigh meat) were better compared to cage-housed (4.47 and 4.83 for breast meat at slaughter ages 38 and 49 days; 4.37 and 4.70 for thigh meat). The conclusion was made that meat quality estimated by a set of the relevant parameters was marginally better in floor housed broilers in compare to cage-housed.

Keywords:broiler chicks, cage housing, floor housing, slaughter age, meat quality

Voprosy pitaniia [Problems of Nutrition]. 2018; 87 (5): 77-84. doi: 10.24411/0042-8833-2018-10056. (in Russian)

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Viktor A. Tutelyan
Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Scientific Director of the Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety (Moscow, Russia)

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