Behavioural and physiological responses of three chicken breeds to pre-slaughter shackling and acute heat stress

1. The aim of this study was to compare the behavioural and physiological responses to hanging and acute heat stress in three different chicken breeds. Chicks were obtained from a slow-growing French 'Label Rouge' line (SGL), a fast-growing standard line (FGL) and a heavy line (HL). The SGL, FGL and HL birds were slaughtered at their respective market ages of 12, 6 and 6 weeks, in an attempt to achieve similar body weights. Before stunning, birds were either shackled by their legs on the moving line for 2 min (shackling stress: SH) or placed in a room at 35 degrees C and 60% of humidity for 3.5 h and then shackled for 2 min (acute heat stress plus shackling: H + SH) or subjected to minimal stress by shackling for 10 s before stunning (control group: C). 2. Bird physiological responses to the three pre-slaughter treatments were estimated by measuring blood corticosterone, glycaemia, creatine kinase activity, acid-base status and electrolyte concentration as well as lactate content and glycolytic potential in the breast (Pectoralis major) and thigh (Ilio tibialis) muscles. Behavioural responses to shackling stress were evaluated by measuring wing flapping duration, straightening up attempts and vocalisations. 3. Blood corticosterone was higher in SH and H+SH groups than in the C group, regardless of genotype. The struggling activity on the shackle line differed among chicken breeds. It was more intense and occurred more rapidly after hanging in the SGL birds than in both other breeds. Furthermore, SGL struggling activity was not affected by hanging duration while it increased with hanging duration in FGL and HL birds. 4. Wing flapping duration was negatively correlated with blood pH, bicarbonate concentration and positively correlated with breast muscle lactate content, indicating that struggling stimulated antemortem glycolysis activity in breast muscle. Acute heat stress affected blood Ca2+ and Na+ concentration and increased glycaemia and glycolytic potential of thigh muscle. 5. Both acute heat stress and shackling before slaughter were experienced as stressful events by all types of birds.     

Meat quality traits and muscle characteristicsin high or low fear lines of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) subjected to acute stress

1. The influence of acute stress before slaughter on muscle and meat quality was studied in adult male quail from lines divergently selected for long (LTI) or short (STI) duration of tonic immobility (TI) and from the unselected (C) control line. 2. When subjected to acute stress, birds from the long TI line responded differently to those of the control or the low fear lines. LTI birds exhibited: a higher plasma creatine kinase and a smaller increase in plasma corticosterone levels, a higher pHu and drip loss values for breast meat associated with no differences in L*a*b* colour values; a higher percentage of fast glycolytic myofibres (IIb) and correspondingly (correlate) higher glycolytic (activity) in the pectoralis major (PM) muscle, and consequently lower oxidative enzyme activity in the PM muscle. 3. It is concluded that acute stress affected muscle metabolism differently in the STI, C and LTI lines. Hence, selection for TI, which is correlated with underlying fearfulness, can indirectly lead to differences in meat quality.     

Duration of wing flapping in chickens shackled before slaughter

Shackling can induce wing flapping in chickens. In this survey of 30 chicken processing plants the proportion of birds flapping their wings had usually subsided to less than 0.5 per cent after the birds had been conveyed 2 m away from the shackling area. Thereafter, there were many causes of wing flapping, of which the following were thought to be important; tight fitting shackles on the birds' shanks, electric shocks at the water bath stunner before stunning, sudden bright sunlight, bends in the line, temporary loss of visual contact between neighbouring birds, and unevenness in the line which jolted the birds. If it is decided that legislation is required to prescribe a minimum 'hang-on' period before stunning it is suggested that birds should not be put through the stunner less than 12 seconds after shackling because after this time 99.7 per cent of the birds had stopped flapping.     

母体日粮低能量对后代肉仔鸡生长性能、胴体品质和肉质的影响

本文旨在研究母体日粮低能量对后代肉仔鸡生长性能、胴体品质及肉质的影响.试验选用低脂系肉种鸡120羽,随机分成2组,每组60个重复,每个重复1羽,即单笼饲养.在肉种鸡产蛋期产蛋率达到5%进行试验处理,试验分试验组和对照组,试验组代谢能量为对照组的80%孵化后的肉仔鸡按照母体不同能量处理各挑选健康仔鸡,在相同的试验条件下进行饲养,试验期为56 d.结果表明:1)与对照组相比,母体日粮低能量有降低1日龄肉仔鸡体重的趋势,对全期日增重和料重比影响不显著(P＞0.05);2)与对照组相比,母体日粮低能量对后代肉仔鸡胸肌和腿肌的水分、脂肪和蛋白质含量,胸肌率和腹脂率均无显著影响(P＞0.05),但显著增加腿肌率(P＜0.05);3)与对照组相比,母体日粮低能量对后代肉仔鸡胸肌和腿肌的pH、红度、黄度、滴水损失和蒸煮损失均无显著影响(P＞0.05),但pH、红度和黄度值有升高趋势,滴水损失和蒸煮损失有降低趋势,胸肌和腿肌剪切力显著降低(P＜0.05);4)与对照组相比,母体日粮低能量显著提高后代肉仔鸡胸肌和腿肌肌纤维密度(P＜0.05),显著降低后代肉仔鸡胸肌和腿肌肌纤维直径(P＜0.05).本试验的研究结果表明:母体日粮低能量对后代肉仔鸡的胴体品质及肉质能产生一定的影响.     

Consequence of muscle hypertrophy on characteristics of Pectoralis major muscle and breast meat quality of broiler chickens

The structural and metabolic characteristics of the pectoralis major (P. major) muscle (i.e., breast muscle) and the quality of the resulting meat were studied in relation to breast muscle fiber development in broiler chickens. Six hundred birds originating from a commercial, grand parental, male heavy line (Hubbard-Europe, Chateaubourg, France) were kept under conventional breeding methods until their usual marketing age of 6 wk. For all birds, the plasma creatine kinase activity and the P. major muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), glycolytic potential, lactate content, pH at 15 min postmortem, as well as the ultimate pH, CIELAB color parameters [lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*)], and drip loss of breast meat, were measured. Increased breast weight and yield were associated with increased fiber CSA, reduced muscle glycolytic potential, and reduced lactate content at 15 min postmortem. Therefore, P. major muscle exhibiting larger fiber CSA exhibited greater pH at 15 min postmortem and ultimate pH, produced breast meat with lower L* and reduced drip loss, and was potentially better adapted to further processing than muscle exhibiting small fiber CSA.     

Evaluation of a breast support conveyor to improve poultry welfare on the shackle line

A breast support conveyor has the potential to improve bird welfare by avoiding the need to invert and suspend broilers by their legs as they move from the point of shackling to entry into the electric waterbath. To evaluate its effect on welfare under commercial conditions, a breast support conveyor was installed under the conventional shackle line of a small poultry processing plant. A structured assessment of the behaviour of the birds indicated a significant decrease in struggling and wing flapping at the point of shackling, on the straight conveyor and at entry into the waterbath. This resulted in a lower prevalence of red wing tips and bruising in the first wing joint. The shackle line and conveyor in this installation, however, passed around a 90° corner, which appeared to cause more disturbance to the birds on the conveyor than to comparable birds suspended from shackles in the traditional manner. The results indicate that a breast support conveyor has the potential to improve bird welfare on straight shackle lines and that, because struggling activity and duration following shackling are reduced, the time between shackling and stunning could also be reduced using this method, further improving bird welfare. Breast support conveyors should not be used when the shackle lines have sharp bends.     

Growth,carcase and meat traits and gene expression in chickens divergently selected for intramuscular fat content

1. Changes resulting from divergent selection after 5 generations for intramuscular fat (IMF) content in breast muscle in a population of purebred Beijing-You chickens were investigated. Female chickens from lines selected-up (UL) and selected-down (DL) for 5 generations and random-bred controls (CL) were studied at 120 d of age.

2. In the UL, IMF in breast muscle (4.65%) was 1.38 times that in the DL (3.36%). The IMF content in leg muscle was also higher in UL compared to DL.

3. There were significant differences in growth, carcase traits and meat quality between the two selected lines. However, ultimate pH (pHu) was lower and lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) were higher in breast muscles of UL birds compared to DL birds. Similar trends for pHu and L* value between UL and DL were observed in leg muscle.

4. Significant mRNA expression differences of the heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) gene between UL and DL were observed in breast muscle, and a negative correlation between expression of mRNA and IMF% in breast and leg muscles pointed to H-FABP as a potential selection candidate gene.     

Post mortem muscle metabolism and meat quality in three genetic types of turkey

1. A standard (FG, fast-growing), a black local or 'label', type (SG, slow-growing) turkey line, and the crossbreed between these two lines were compared for muscle post-mortem metabolism and related meat quality traits. 2. Ninety male turkeys (30 of each genetic type) were raised under the same experimental conditions until slaughter at 16 weeks of age. 3. Live weights at 16 weeks of age differed significantly (7.8, 6.0 and 4.2 kg, for the FG, crossbred and SG lines, respectively). Collagen content of Pectoralis superficialis (PS) muscle was higher in SG birds than in the other two types. 4. The rate of post-mortem glycogen depletion and lactate accumulation in PS and Ilio tibialis (IT) muscles were similar in the 3 lines, as were the rate and extent of post-mortem pH fall in PS muscle. In IT muscle, however, SG birds showed a slight but significantly faster pH decline. 5. Colour measurements indicated a paler breast muscle and a higher degree of myoglobin oxidation in SG birds at 24 h post mortem, than in both other lines. But these differences had disappeared after 4 and 7 d post mortem 6. SG birds showed higher drip loss and instrumentally-assessed toughness in breast muscle, compared with crossbred and FG birds. FG birds, however, had the lowest yield of breast meat after curing-cooking. 7. No marked differences in post-mortem metabolism were found between the three lines. However, differences in water-holding capacity of fresh and cured-cooked meat suggest that factors other than the rate and extent of post-mortem pH fall may contribute to the respective characteristics of these lines.     

金茅黑鸡肉品质性状的关联转录组分析

为深入了解家禽肉品质性状形成的分子机制,本实验测定金茅黑鸡胸肌的肉品质,利用RNA-seq技术进行转录组测序,分析转录组基因表达量与肉品质性状间的关联性。结果显示:与金茅黑鸡14周龄肉色显著相关的基因5个,pH57个,剪切力33个,系水力17个;PLEKHS1、MUC等基因为影响肉色的候选基因,LHX9、SPDEF、GRXCR1等基因为系水力的候选基因,NPY、POMC、FGF20、MGAT4C和GUK1基因为影响肌肉pH的候选基因,EDAR基因和HS6ST3基因为肌肉剪切力的主要候选基因;功能分析发现这些基因在调节肌肉纤维、肌间脂肪沉积、脂类代谢、糖代谢过程和磷酸二酯酶水解等方面发挥重要作用,进而影响胸肌肌肉品质的形成。     

Effects of divergent selection for body weight on three skeletal muscles characteristics in the chicken

1. Histochemical (fibre type distribution and areas) and biochemical (myosin isoforms) characteristics of three muscles, M. anterior latissimus dorsi, M. pectoralis major and M. sartorius, were compared among male chickens of two lines at 11 and 55 weeks of age.

2. The lines were derived from a divergent selection based on growth rate. Cockerels from the Fast Growing Line (FGL) were 2^‐3 times heavier than those from the Slow Growing line (SGL) when 11 weeks old and 1–7 times at 55 weeks of age. The latter age was chosen as representative of the adult stage and the 11‐week age because, at this time, FGL cocks weighed as much as SGL cockerels at 55 weeks.

3. At both ages, the two lines showed similar fibre type distributions, but the total number in the ALD muscle, and the size (cross‐sectional areas) of fibres in each muscle were higher in the FGL compared with the SGL (14–6% and 33% more at 11 and 55 weeks of age respectively in favour of the FGL birds).

4. The two lines displayed similar myosin isoform patterns when adult muscles were compared (55 weeks). They differed slightly at 11 weeks of age, muscle differentiation being completed only in the FGL.

5 Comparisons of the two lines at the same live weight (i.e. FGL cockerels at 11 weeks of age and SGL cockerels at 55 weeks) showed larger muscle fibres in the SGL and no difference in the isomyosin patterns.     

Effects of different rearing and feeding methods on meat quality and antioxidative properties in Chinese Yellow male broilers

1. This study examined responses of male broilers during a 42-d production cycle to two different rearing and feeding methods. 2. A total of 400 Chinese Yellow male broilers were allotted randomly at 21 d into two groups; the control was a typical indoor commercial rearing method and the treatment had outdoor access with scattered feeding (OS). Each group had 5 replicates with 40 birds per replicate. 3. Growth performance was similar for both groups from 21 to 63 d of age. OS birds had significantly lower abdominal fat percentage, meat shear force, drip loss, breast meat colour b* value and significantly higher pH value compared with the controls. OS birds had significantly lower muscle fibre diameter and greater muscle fibre density. Serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly higher and the contents of cholesterol, lactic acid, glycogen and malondialdehyde of breast muscle were significantly lower in OS birds than controls. 4. The results suggest that the OS feeding method had no negative effects on performance (weight, gain, feed conversion rate, carcase traits) compared with controls, and appeared to be beneficial for meat quality indices and oxidative stability.     

Heritability and genetic correlation estimates for performance,meat quality and quantitative skeletal muscle fiber traits in broiler

Broiler feed efficiency and meat quality are the primary factors considered by the poultry industry. This study was conducted to estimate heritability and genetic correlation coefficients for skeletal muscle fiber number, area and diameter and performance and meat quality traits of Pectoralis major in a single male broiler line. (Co) variance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood method, using the software MTDFREML. The numerator relationship matrix was composed by 77,474 individuals. Heritability coefficient estimates ranged from moderate to high for juvenile BW, breast weight, ultrasound record of pectoral muscle, lightness and thawing meat loss. Genetic correlation estimates for performance and skeletal muscle fiber traits indicated that selection for higher breast weight and juvenile BW could reduce muscle fiber number and increase muscle fiber diameter and area, which could prejudice the meat quality of this line. Selection for muscle fiber number and against muscle fiber diameter and area might improve meat water retention ability and tenderness in this broiler line, and selection programs could consider those traits as selection criteria, although this may be costly. We recommend the evaluation of the indirect selection caused by the use of the performance traits as selection criteria especially for juvenile BW and breast weight. Direct, intense selection for both traits might be unfavorable for most of the meat quality traits analyzed, which could lead to losses to both the chicken meat processing industry and consumers.     

Forced locomotor activity improves walking ability of male turkeys and modifies carcass characteristics

ABSTRACT

1. This trial investigated the effect of forced locomotor activity (training) on walking ability, leg posture, and growth performance, as well as carcass composition and meat quality in male fattening turkeys.

2. A flock of 744 commercial turkeys was divided into three experimental groups, either without any training period (control), training from weeks 2 to 8 (short-term), or training from weeks 2 to 21 (long-term). All birds were slaughtered at an age of 21 weeks. To study the effect of short vs. long time lapse between shackling and stunning (suspension time), each training group was split into two halves that were hooked on the shackle for either 15 s or 3 min prior to stunning.

3. Long-term physical training, compared to short-term or no training, resulted in better walking ability and in a lower percentage of leg malposition, as assessed at the end of fattening. No effect on final body weight was detected.

4. In a subsample, the composition of 80 carcasses was determined by dissection. Long-term training favoured the percentage of the drumstick over that of the breast cut in comparison to the group without any training.

5. Meat quality parameters were determined for breast muscle. The pH values 20 min post-mortem were reduced by long-term training, and the highest value was observed for a combination of no training with short suspension. After 24 h, pH values did not differ between experimental groups. The breast muscles were characterised as fast-glycolysing. Prolonged suspension time resulted in higher electrical conductivity after 24 h, and in higher a* values (redness).

6. In conclusion, the study revealed that a long-term training period improved walking ability and leg posture of heavy male turkeys. Thus, training can contribute to the improvement of animal welfare in turkey husbandry. Meat quality variables of breast muscles were partially influenced by locomotor activity and suspension time.     

Genetic polymorphism of the CAPN1 gene is associated with meat quality traits in Japanese quail

1. The objective of the study was to investigate the polymorphisms in two regions of the calpain 1 (CAPN1) gene and their association with breast and thigh meat quality in Japanese quail (ultimate pH (pHu), lightness, redness, yellowness, drip loss, thawing-cooking loss, water holding capacity and shear force, SF).

2. Blood samples were collected randomly from 100 birds and DNA was extracted using a commercial kit. Genotypes were determined by PCR amplification followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. The effect of CAPN1 genotypes on meat quality traits were analysed using a general linear model (GLM) procedure.

3. Genotypes of the CAPN1 gene in the first region (217-bp) analysed were significantly associated with yellowness and SF. The TT genotype showed significantly higher yellowness and lower shear force (more tenderness) than CT and CC genotypes. Genotypes of the second region of the gene (intron 4, 800-bp) were significantly associated with pHu, redness and SF of the breast meat. The BB genotype showed significantly lower pHu and redness and higher SF (lower tenderness) than other genotypes.

4. Information on polymorphisms of the CAPN1 gene will eventually provide useful information for improving meat quality of Japanese quail through marker-assisted selection.     

鸡CAPN1基因3′-UTR多态性及其与肉质性状的关联分析

试验利用PCR-SSCP技术对寿光鸡CAPN1基因3′-UTR的多态性进行了检测,并进一步分析了其与肉质性状的相关性。结果显示,在寿光鸡群体中检测到AA、AB 2种基因型,基因型频率分别为0.43、0.57,AB为优势基因型;A、B等位基因频率分别为0.715、0.285,A为优势等位基因;群体中未检测到BB基因型个体。经χ2检验,群体处于Hardy-Weinberg非平衡状态(P0.05)。CAPN1基因3′-UTR的多态性对胸肌pHu、腿肌pHu、肌内脂肪含量和胸肌剪切力有显著性影响(P0.05);对腿肌剪切力、失水率、胸肌蒸煮损失和腿肌蒸煮损失无显著性影响(P0.05)。     

倒毛鸡生物学特性、屠宰性能及肉质性状研究

为保护贵州地区倒毛鸡的种质资源和遗传多样性,研究其生长性能和肉用价值,试验对倒毛鸡的生物学特性、屠宰性能及肉品质进行了测定。结果表明:倒毛鸡的蛋重为(42.75±2.18)g,孵化率约为75%。倒毛鸡在0日龄时,公、母鸡之间的体重差异不显著(P0.05),30日龄后差异达显著水平(P0.05),180日龄平均体重公鸡为1 776.12 g、母鸡为1 455.68 g,差异显著(P0.05)。180日龄腹脂率母鸡高于公鸡,而活重、屠体重、半净膛重、全净膛重、胸肌重、腿肌重、屠宰率、全净膛率、腿肌率等性状指标公鸡优于母鸡,差异均显著(P0.05);其他性状指标在性别间差异不显著。公、母鸡腿肌p H值和剪切力均高于胸肌,失水率低于胸肌,公、母鸡之间差异均不显著(P0.05)。品尝实验显示,倒毛鸡肉质细嫩、味道鲜美,比普通土鸡更受欢迎。结论:倒毛鸡具有较好的肉用性能,有较大开发价值和发展前景。     

Modulation of glycogen and breast meat processing ability by nutrition in chickens: effect of crude protein level in 2 chicken genotypes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of 2 isoenergetic growing diets with different CP (17 vs. 23%) on the performance and breast meat quality of 2 lines of chicken divergently selected for abdominal fatness [i.e., fat and lean (LL) lines]. Growth performance, breast and abdominal fat yields, breast meat quality parameters (pH, color, drip loss), and muscle glycogen storage at death were measured. Increased dietary CP resulted in increased BW, increased breast meat yield, and reduced abdominal fatness at slaughter regardless of genotype (P < 0.001). By contrast, dietary CP affected glycogen storage and the related meat quality parameters only in the LL chickens. Giving LL chickens the low-CP diet led to reduced concentration of muscle glycogen (P < 0.01), and as a result, breast meat with a higher (P < 0.001) ultimate pH, decreased (P < 0.001) lightness, and reduced (P < 0.001) drip loss during storage. The decreased muscle glycogen content observed in LL receiving the low-CP diet compared with the high-CP diet occurred concomitantly with greater phosphorylation amount for the α-catalytic subunit of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and glycogen synthase. This was consistent with the reduced muscle glycogen content observed in LL fed the low-CP diet because adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibits glycogen synthesis through its action on glycogen synthase. Our results demonstrated that nutrition is an effective means of modulating breast meat properties in the chicken. The results also highlighted the need to take into account interaction with the genetic background of the animal to select nutritional strategies to improve meat quality traits in poultry.     

日粮中添加包被肉桂油对肉鸡屠宰性能、肌肉品质和风味的影响

为探究鸡日粮中添加包被肉桂油对肉鸡生长性能、屠宰性能、肌肉品质和肌肉风味的影响,试验选用168只1日龄罗斯308雏鸡,随机分成2个处理组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中添加300 mg/kg的包被肉桂油。结果显示:与对照组相比,试验组肉鸡活体重没有显著的差异(P>0.05);21日龄胸肌的a^*值和b^*值(P<0.05)和42日龄胸肌和腿肌的24 h pH值(P<0.05)提高,21和42日龄胸肌和腿肌的滴水损失(P<0.05)降低;21日龄胸肌中过氧化氢的含量和42日龄胸肌丙二醛含量(P<0.01)降低;腿肌中的甜味氨基酸(丝氨酸和甘氨酸)(P<0.05)和芳香族氨基酸(酪氨酸和苯丙氨酸)的含量(P<0.01)提高。研究表明:日粮中添加300 mg/kg的包被肉桂油能够改善肉鸡肌肉品质的部分指标,提高胸肌抗氧化力和腿肌风味。     

云南武定鸡肉品质分析

本试验对230日龄武定鸡不同性别和部位的肉质物理特性指标进行了测定分析。结果显示:①性别对230日龄武定鸡的肉质物理特性影响不大,仅在嫩度上母鸡优于公鸡,且差异显著(P<0.05);②部位对230日龄武定鸡肉质的物理特性有很明显的影响(P<0.05),胸肌的嫩度、贮藏损失、L值、b值均显著高于腿肌,而a值、pH值显著低于腿肌,只有系水率在胸部和腿部间没有显著差异(P>0.05);③阉割可以改善武定鸡肉质。