The effects of the dark house system on growth,performance and meat quality of broiler chicken

Meat production with minimum animal suffering is a humanitarian concern. Thus, the objective of this work was to observe the performance of Cobb broiler chickens from 7 to 46 days of age when raised under different installations: dark house system (DHS), conventional yellow system (CYC) and conventional blue system (CBC). The feed conversion ratio for the birds raised on the DHS was 3.8% and 2.7% lower than those for the CYC and CBC systems, respectively. Compared with the CYC and CBC systems, average daily gain under the DHS was 11.4% and 9.3% higher, respectively, and body weight at 46 days was 11.4% and 9.3% higher, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). The birds' welfare was assessed based on their stress by determining the amount of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) meat in the breast fillets. The CYC and CBC birds had 24.3% and 25.3% PSE meat, respectively, whereas the DHS birds had 37.0%. We concluded that the DHS has a greater potential to produce broiler chickens, with superior performance to conventional systems, despite the higher stress faced by the birds during the maneuvers just before slaughter.     

The effects of diet,slaughter weight and docking on growth,carcass composition and meat quality of fat-tailed Barbarine lambs. A review

This review summarises the main factors that influence meat production and quality in fat-tailed Barbarine (FTB) lambs. As a general feature, FTB lamb's growth is moderate, and the average daily gain ranges between 100 and 350 g. The carcass being relatively fatty, carcass fat content varies from 10% to 32%; white fat and rose meat are often dominant in these carcasses. The meat fatty acid profile of this fat-tailed breed is similar to that of thin-tailed ones, with a prevalence of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids. The order of dissected adipose tissues accumulation, estimated by allometry coefficients, is in agreement with observations in thin-tailed sheep. However, tail fat allometry coefficient is closer to kidney fat values rather than to the subcutaneous one. Concerning effects of feed level, growth of FTB lambs fed silage is higher than those fed oat hay. With moderate concentrate supply, FTB lambs' growth is more pronounced on pasture diet than on the feedlot (FL) diet. Furthermore, at similar slaughter weights, carcasses of lambs fed pasture diet have less tail and carcass fat than those from lambs fed FL diet (5% and 18% vs. 9% and 24% for grazing and FL lambs, respectively). No difference in fat colour, fat firmness or cooked meat flavour is observed between carcasses obtained at different slaughtering weight (i.e. from 25 to 35 kg). The tail docking of FTB improved lambs' growth particularly before weaning. Its effect on carcass composition and fat proportion depends on stage of slaughtering and type of fattening diet. For suckled lambs (4 months), the docking resulted in the lower carcass fat weight (and proportion), while for fattened lambs, carcass composition was similar for all types of lambs. Overall, FTB lambs always grow slower than Noire de Thibar lambs. This is particularly pronounced during the fattening phase. Then, for FTB breed, the possibilities to obtain heavy carcasses are at risks of fat accumulation, 22.8% vs. 14.4% for FTB and Noire de Thibar thin-tailed lambs, respectively. However, the main advantage of FTB breed is that adults are well adapted to food scarcity and may produce lambs even under harsh conditions.     

葡萄籽提取物原花青素对肉兔生长发育、血清酶活性及消化代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究葡萄籽提取物原花青素（Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts,GSPE）对肉兔生长发育、血清酶活性及消化代谢的影响。采用单因子随机区组试验设计,选择128只60日龄、体质量相近的健康新西兰兔,随机分为4组（1个对照组和3个试验组）,每组32个重复,每个重复1只。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,3个试验组分别饲喂在基础饲粮中添加100、200、400mg/kg GSPE的试验饲粮。试验期为39d,其中预试期为6d,正试期为33d。正试期第10~15天收集试验兔排出的全部粪便和尿液。结果显示：4组试验兔死亡率和腹泻率分别为12.50%、6.25%、3.13%、3.13%和1.95%、1.52%、1.17%、0.59%;对照组试验兔日增重、日干物质进食量及血清碱性磷酸酶活性均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）低于200mg/kg组和400mg/kg组,而料重比及谷丙与谷草转氨酶活性均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）高于后者;对照组试验兔屠宰率显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）低于其余3组,而400mg/kg组试验兔脾脏相对质量极显著（P〈0.01）高于其余3组;对照组试验兔十二指肠相对重量、相对长度及密度、空肠相对长度、盲肠相对质量、全肠道相对质量与相对长度及胃肠道相对质量均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）低于200mg/kg组和400mg/kg组,空肠相对质量、盲肠相对长度与密度、大肠相对长度及全肠道密度均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）低于400mg/kg组,且大肠相对质量与密度均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）低于其余3组;400mg/kg组试验兔饲粮干物质、有机物、粗纤维、钙与磷表观消化率、总能表观消化率与利用率及氮表观消化率均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）高于其余3组,氮利用率则显著（P〈0.05）高于对照组,而对照组试验兔饲粮粗脂肪表观消化率与消化能利用率均显著（P〈0.05）或极显著（P〈0.01）低于20     

Association study of polymorphisms inside the miR-1657 seed region with chicken growth and meat traits

1. Polymorphisms occurring in the seed region of microRNAs (miRNAs) could influence their target gene and lead to phenotypic variation. The purpose of the research was to explore the genetic effects of the rs14934924 (G?>?A) mutation resident in the conserved seed region of miR-1657 on growth and meat traits of the Gushi-Anka F2 resource population.

2. The NdeI polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and association analysis were used to analyse the polymorphism.

3. The mutation was associated with body weight at 8 weeks of age, shank girth at 12 weeks of age, breast bone length at 12 weeks of age, pelvis breadth at 4 weeks of age and subcutaneous fat thickness (P?P? 4. Our results will be a useful resource for a subsequent study in miRNA function, and provide a basis for molecular techniques in chicken breeding.     

Effects of diet containing extruded full-fat soybeans or butter on the growth, composition, and sensory characteristics of pork.

Ninety-six crossbred barrows were randomly allotted to five replications of four treatments to determine the effects of diets containing 20% extruded full-fat soybeans (FFS) or 4% butter (B) on the growth, composition, and sensory characteristics of finishing pigs. Pigs were housed five per pen, except for one replication that had four pigs per pen, in environmentally regulated barns. Pigs were given ad libitum access to a corn-soybean meal diet for 11 wk (control); a corn-extruded soybeans and soft wheat midds diet for 11 wk (FFS-11); a corn-soybean meal diet for 6 wk, changed to a corn-extruded soybeans and soft wheat midds diet for 5 wk (FFS-5); or a corn-soybean meal diet for 6 wk, changed to a corn-soybean meal, soft wheat midds, and 4% butter diet for 5 wk (B). Feed intake and weight gain were measured once every 2 wk. Pigs were slaughtered and carcass data were collected. Sensory characteristics (tenderness, juiciness, pork flavor intensity, off-flavor intensity, and overall acceptability), shear force, moisture, and fat content were determined for the longissimus muscle. Sensory characteristics (pork flavor, off-flavor, rubbery, cohesiveness, and juiciness) and 2- thiobarbituric acid values were determined for ground pork (30% fat) after 1, 4, and 7 d for control, FFS-11, and B treatments. No differences (P > .05) in ADG were observed between diets. Feed efficiency of the FFS-11 group was better (P < .05) than that of the control or B groups. No consistent differences were observed for carcass, sensory, or shear-force characteristics of the longissimus muscle or ground pork.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and sensory quality of meat from broiler chicken fed autolysate from bacteria grown on natural gas

Bacterial autolysate, a down stream product of bacterial biomass grown on natural gas by mainly the methanotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus, was fed at 8% as is to broiler chickens from 1 to 35 days of age for studies of fatty acid composition, lipid oxidation and sensory quality of thigh meat stored frozen for 6 month at -18 °C or -80 °C. Lipid oxidation was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and volatile profile by dynamic headspace gas chromatography. Adding bacterial autolysate to diets did not affect the total content of saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids in thigh meat, but increased the levels of C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 and C16:1n-7 and reduced the levels of C18:1n-7, C18:2n-6 and C18:3n-3 fatty acids. Feeding of bacterial autolysate tended (p < 0.08) to reduce TBARS of meat samples. Contents of volatiles were generally low, but feeding of bacterial autolysate significantly reduced levels of butanal (p < 0.04) and tended to reduce levels of hexanal (p < 0.11), pentanal (p < 0.09), 1-penten-3-ol (p < 0.08) and butanone (p < 0.08). Bacterial autolysate had no effects on sensory quality parameters of meat related to odour and flavour. To conclude, adding bacterial autolysate to diets did not affect the relative proportion of saturated, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, but reduced content of volatiles in frozen-stored broiler meat. The reduced susceptibility to lipid oxidation in broiler meat may be related to antioxidant properties of the bacterial autolysate.     

Growth performance,carcass traits,meat chemical composition and blood serum metabolites of broiler chicken fed on diets containing flaxseed oil

1. This study evaluated the effects of diets with partial and total substitution of soya bean oil (SO) with flaxseed (linseed) oil (FO) on broiler chicken performance, carcass traits, meat chemical composition and blood serum metabolites.

2. A total of 448 one-d-old Cobb 500 broiler chicken were used. They were allotted among 4 treatments with 8 replications, using a completely randomised design, for 35 d. Four diets were compared: T1 = 100% SO (3%, 1–7 d; 4%, 8–21 d; and 5%, 22–35 d); T2 = 50% SO + 50% FO; T3 = 25% SO + 75% FO and T4 = 100% FO.

3. No significant differences were observed in body weight (BW), body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and blood serum metabolites (total triglycerides, TRI; total cholesterol, CHO; high-density lipoprotein, HDL; low-density lipoprotein, LDL; glucose, GLU; albumin, ALB; globulin, GLO; and total proteins, TPs). Significant effects were observed for TRI, CHO, HDL, GLU, HDL, LDL, ALB and GLO with regard to the day of collection.

4. Carcass traits did not show significant differences for the treatments. No significant differences were observed for breast and drumstick chemical compositions, with the exception of drumstick fat concentration (quadratic effect).

5. In conclusion, the partial or total substitution of SO with FO did not affect growth performance, carcass traits, meat chemical composition or blood serum profile in broiler chicken. Therefore, FO can be an alternative to SO in the diet formulation for broiler chicken.     

Effect of feeding Aspergillus awamori and canola seed on the growth performance and muscle fatty acid profile in broiler chicken

The aim of this study was to examine effects of dietary supplementation with Aspergillus awamori and feeding canola seed on the growth and fatty acid profile in broilers. Twenty‐eight chicks (15 days old) were assigned to the following groups: (1) control, fed a basal diet; (2) awamori, fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.05% A. awamori; (3) canola, fed a diet containing 5% canola seed; and (4) canola + awamori, fed the canola diet supplemented with A. awamori (seven birds/group). Body weight gain was increased by A. awamori but not influenced by canola seed. Breast muscle weight was increased in either awamori or canola groups. Although plasma triglyceride and cholesterol were decreased by feeding A. awamori or canola seed, fat content in the breast muscle were increased, accompanied by decrease in saturated fatty acids and increase in unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and increased α‐tocopherol content in the breast muscle was observed in all experimental groups. In conclusion, these results suggested that feeding canola seed and A. awamori might improve growth performance, and modified muscle fatty acid profile and α‐tocopherol content, suggesting that they may improve meat quality.     

Carcass characteristics,composition, physico-chemical,microbial and sensory quality of emu meat

1. In order to investigate whether emu meat is a potential red meat alternative, this work was carried out with the objective of studying the carcass characteristics, proximate composition, physico-chemical and microbial characteristics and sensory attributes of emu meat.

2. Carcass characteristics clearly indicate that emus are a significant source of lean meat, fat, skin and edible by-products and these findings confirm earlier reports.

3. Proximate composition of emu meat indicated higher protein and ash content and lower fat, total lipids and cholesterol content than meat from other meat animals.

4. The pH, water holding capacity, collagen content and solubility, protein extractability, muscle fibre diameter and Warner–Bratzler shear force values of emu meat are similar to the earlier reports for meats from other food animals.

5. Emu meat is dark, cherry red in colour with significantly higher myoglobin content and the myoglobin is more prone to oxidation as evidenced by higher initial metmyoglobin percentage. The initial thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values and free fatty acids percentage in emu meat were higher than those in meats from other species.

6. Sensory evaluation of cooked emu meat curry revealed highly acceptable scores relative to goat meat curry, the most preferred meat in India.

7. The study shows the potential of emu meat as a new source of low fat, quality meat proteins. However, more studies are required to elucidate the effect of age, sex, muscles, pre-slaughter and post-slaughter factors on different carcass and meat quality characteristics.     

The composition of the broiler chicken at 56 days of age: Output,components and chemical composition

1. 24 male and 24 female broilers were slaughtered at 56 d old, eviscerated and dissected to ascertain eviscerated yield and carcass composition.

2. The chemical composition of component parts was determined by analysis.     

不同亚麻酸水平及饲料组成对育肥猪生长性能和肉品质的影响

旨在研究不同亚麻酸水平的日粮对育肥猪生长性能、胴体性状及肉品质的影响。试验选取900头60 kg左右,健康状况良好的杜×长×大三元育肥猪作为试验对象,采用随机区组设计,分为5个处理,每个处理3个重复,每个重复60头猪。5个试验组分别为:对照组(玉米豆粕型);10%苜蓿草粉组;20%苜蓿草粉组;大豆油组(与10%的草粉组亚麻酸水平一致);亚麻油组(与20%的草粉组亚麻酸水平一致)。试验期67 d,其中正试期60 d。结果表明:1)10%的苜蓿草粉组的日增重显著高于20%苜蓿草粉组和亚麻油组,也高于豆油组和对照组,但差异不显著。2)2个草粉组的瘦肉率高于两个加油组,也高于对照组,然而其屠宰率下降。3)试验组的眼肌面积显著高于对照组,以10%草粉组最高,2个草粉组的大理石纹和肉色优于豆油组和亚麻油组。4)试验组和对照组相比,降低了棕榈酸、硬脂酸等饱和脂肪酸的含量,提高了亚油酸、亚麻酸等多不饱和脂肪酸的含量。这些结果表明,在日粮中加入10%的苜蓿草粉有利于提高动物的生产性能,添加苜蓿草粉和植物油均有助于改善肉的品质,其中苜蓿草粉组饲料组成对亚麻酸的沉积效果优于植物油脂。     

The effects of slaughter weight on chemical composition,physical properties,and fatty acid profile of musculus longissimus dorsi in Holstein bulls

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study was conducted to investigate the effects of slaughter weight on chemical composition, physical properties, and fatty acid profile of musculus...     

葡萄渣对肉鸡生长性能、营养物质消化及肉质的影响

文章旨在探讨葡萄渣对肉鸡生长性能、营养物质表观消化率和肉品质的影响。将500只1日龄肉鸡随机分为4组,每组5个重复,每个重复25只鸡。日粮分为4个处理:对照组(基础日粮),处理1~3组在基础日粮中分别添加4、6和8g/kg葡萄渣。试验从1日龄开展到28日龄。结果显示,日粮添加葡萄渣对体增重无显著线性影响(P>0.05),但对1~7d和8~14d体增重的影响具有显著二次曲线效应(P<0.05),22~28d和1~28d体增重、采食量和饲料转化率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。除灰分表观消化率随葡萄渣添加水平的升高呈二次曲线趋势外(P=0.07),葡萄渣对其他养分表观消化率无显著影响(P>0.05)。葡萄渣添加水平对血清中葡萄糖、甘油三酯和高密度脂蛋白水平无显著影响(P>0.05),而总胆固醇和血清IgG水平表现为显著二次曲线效应(P<0.05)。随着葡萄渣添加水平的升高,肌肉储存0、5和10d后硫代巴比妥酸反应物值表现为显著线性降低(P<0.05),在储存5d和10d时呈二次曲线效应(P<0.05)。此外,葡萄渣也显著降低了肌肉的鲜红度,表现为显著线性和二次曲线效应(P<0.05)。综上所述,在肉鸡日粮中添加8g/kg的葡萄渣,在不影响肉鸡生长性能、营养物质消化率和胴体性状的前提下可有效降低血清胆固醇,改善肉鸡的肉质参数。     

Compensatory growth response in pigs: effects on growth performance, composition of weight gain at carcass and muscle levels, and meat quality

A restriction/realimentation feeding strategy was applied to pigs to increase the age at market weight and final ADG, modify protein and lipid deposition rates at carcass and muscle levels, and thereby improve eating quality of the pork. A total of 126 Duroc x (Large White x Landrace) pigs (females and castrated males) were used. At the average BW of 30 kg, within litter and sex, pairs of littermates (blocked by BW) were randomly assigned to ad libitum (AL) feeding during growing (30 to 70 kg of BW) and finishing (70 to 110 kg of BW) periods (AL, n = 56), or restricted feeding at 65% of the ADFI of the AL pigs, on a BW basis, during the growing period and AL feeding during finishing (compensatory growth, CG; n = 56). In each feeding regimen, 15 pigs were slaughtered at 70 kg of BW, and 41 pigs were slaughtered at 110 kg of BW. Additionally, 14 pigs were slaughtered at 30 kg of BW to calculate tissue deposition rates. The CG pigs showed decreased ADG (-35%, P = 0.001) during growing but increased ADG (+13%, P = 0.001) during finishing (i.e., compensatory growth) due to greater (P = 0.001) ADFI and G:F. Hence, CG pigs were 19 d older at 110 kg of BW than AL pigs. The CG pigs were leaner at 70 kg of BW than AL (e.g., 11.7 vs. 13.5 mm of average backfat thickness for CG and AL pigs, respectively, P = 0.023), whereas the differences were reduced at 110 kg of BW (20.6 vs. 21.0 mm of average backfat thickness for CG and AL pigs, respectively, P = 0.536). At 70 kg of BW, intramuscular fat (IMF) content of LM did not differ between CG and AL pigs (1.25 vs. 1.49%, respectively, P = 0.118), whereas CG pigs had less IMF in LM at 110 kg of BW (2.19 vs. 2.53% for CG and AL pigs, respectively, P = 0.034). Feeding regimen influenced the composition of weight gain. From 30 to 70 kg of BW, feed restriction reduced (P = 0.001) lean and adipose tissue deposition at the carcass level and protein and lipid deposition at the muscle level. From 70 to 110 kg of BW, the CG feeding strategy increased (P = 0.016) deposition of adipose but not of lean tissue at the carcass level. However, lipid and protein deposition at the muscle level were not affected. Thus, realimentation promoted deposition of subcutaneous fat over IMF. Feeding regimen hardly affected technological meat quality at 110 kg of BW. The CG feeding strategy decreased (P = 0.014) the meat juiciness score in relation to the decreased IMF but did not influence other sensory traits. Elevated IMF content and improved pork quality might be achieved by modifying the onset or duration of the restriction and realimentation periods.     

Effects of dietary oregano and garlic essential oils on carcass characteristics,meat composition,colour, pH and sensory quality of broiler meat

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the individual and combined effects of two essential oils, oregano and garlic, on carcass characteristics, meat composition, colour, pH and sensory quality of broiler meat.

2. The diets were supplemented with no essential oil (control), oregano essential oil or garlic essential oil at 300 mg/kg and oregano essential oil at 150 mg/kg + garlic essential oil at 150 mg/kg.

3. Dietary oregano and garlic oil supplementation did not affect carcass yields, the relative weight of carcass parts, breast and thigh meat composition, pH or b* value of breast meat. Oregano + garlic oil supplementation significantly decreased the L* value. The a* value of breast meat in birds given a diet supplemented with oregano oil was lower than that in birds given a diet supplemented with garlic oil and oregano oil + garlic oil. The essential oil addition had no positive effect on the oxidative stability. There was no difference between the treatments in breast appearance.

4. The juiciness, flavour, oxidised flavour and acceptability of breast meat samples were affected by treatments.     

百香果籽提取物对肉兔生长性能、肉品质及抗氧化指标的影响

文章旨在评估饲料添加不同水平百香果籽提取物对肉兔生长性能、肉品质及抗氧化指标的影响.试验将144只50?d平均体重为(668.38±1.55)g的肉兔随机分为3组,每组4个重复,每个重复12只肉兔.在为期7周的饲养期间,对照组肉兔饲喂基础日粮,T1和T2组肉兔分别饲喂基础日粮+100和200?mg/kg百香果籽提取物....     

日粮中添加大蒜粉对肉仔鸡生产性能和肉质的影响

选用240只长沙黄肉鸡,随机分为4组,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在基础日粮中分别添加杆菌肽锌(20mg/kg)、1.5%和2%的大蒜粉,比较试验鸡的生产性能和肉质.研究结果表明:①日粮中添加1.5%和2.0%的大蒜粉可显著提高肉鸡的日增重、饲料效率和成活率(P＜0.05)及改善肉鸡的屠宰率和肉品质.②大蒜粉可替代抗生素杆菌肽锌对肉鸡起促生长和提高饲料效率的作用.     

Effect of diet composition and slaughter weight on animal performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acid composition in veal calves

The effect of true milk use in the diet of Spanish Brown Swiss male calves on animal performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acids composition was studied. In experiment 1, the effect of milk intake [ad libitum continuous (ADLIB) feed vs. restricted 0.7 during 75 days followed by ad libitum feed (RESTR)] and slaughter endpoint (225 kg vs. 5 month) were studied. In experiment 2, ad libitum concentrate feeding [grain-fed (GF)] was compared with milk supplementation until slaughter [milk-fed (MF)] in calves slaughtered at 345 kg. As regards to milk intake, carcass weight and degree of fatness were higher in the ADLIB group (P<0.05). The RESTR group revealed a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (P<0.05). In experiment 2, the MF group exhibited a higher fat percentage (P<0.05), lower press and cooking losses (P<0.05), and higher scores for tenderness and juiciness (P<0.05) than the GF group. The percentage of saturated fatty acids was higher in the MF group (P<0.05). The results suggest that true milk use in veal production could be an advantageous alternative in terms on production costs, animal performance, and carcass and meat quality.     

Effect of stunning method and filleting time on sensory profile of turkey breast meat

1. Twenty four 22 week‐old large stags were stunned using one of two methods, argon‐induced anoxia (2% residual oxygen) or an electric current (150 mA per bird, 50 Hz). The birds were processed under commercial conditions and carcasses held at 3°C until the breast muscles were filleted at either 3 h after killing or after overnight maturation.

2. The meat samples were frozen at — 40° C and stored at — 20°C until they were thawed at 1°C and cooked at 85°C. They were subjected to sensory evaluation by 10 experienced assessors and instrumental texture measurements were made.

3. Only stunning method had significant effects on the sensory profile and instrumental texture. Breast meat from anoxia‐stunned turkeys was less firm on cutting, more tender and had a more powdery residue on eating than that from electrically‐stunned turkeys. The instrumental texture values confirmed that breast meat from anoxia‐stunned turkeys was more tender than that from the electrically‐stunned turkeys.

4. There was no significant correlation between the subjective tenderness rating and the instrumental texture value.

5. Principal components analysis showed that 59% of total variation was explained by the first two dimensions, the first being a contrast between turkeys that were tender and powdery and those that were firmer and fibrous. When values from individuals were plotted, this dimension was related to the differences between anoxia and electrical stunning, with anoxia‐stunned turkeys at the tender end of the first dimension.