A Correlation Analysis Between Residual Feed Intake and Slaughter Performances and Meat Quality of Beijing-You Chicken

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between residual feed intake (RFI) and some production performances including slaughter performance and meat quality. The RFI and production performances from 400 Beijing-You chickens were used to analyze the correlation of these traits. The results showed that the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and the average daily gain(ADG)of male chickens were extremely significantly higher than female ones (P<0.01), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was decreased extremely significantly (P<0.01). The percentage of carcass and thigh muscle as well as the redness (a^*) were extremely significantly higher in male chickens than female ones (P<0.01). In male chickens, RFI had positive correlation with FCR, ADFI (P<0.01)and percentage of abdominal fat(P<0.05) and negative correlation with percentage of breast muscle and percentage of thigh muscle(P<0.01). In female chickens, RFI had positive correlation with FCR, ADFI (P<0.01) and ADG (P<0.05), but negative correlation with percentage of thigh muscle (P<0.01). In male chickens, RFI was correlated positively with lightness (L^*) (P<0.01) and chroma (C^*) (P<0.05). While in female chickens, RFI had positive correlation with L^*, yellowness (b^*) (P<0.05), a^* and C^*(P<0.01), but had extremely negative correlation with Hue (H^*) and pH (P<0.01). Therefore, RFI had correlation with some production performances including slaughter performance and meat quality.