The meat quality of layer males from free range in comparison with fast growing chickens

M. Lichovníková, J. Jandásek, M. Jůzl and E. Dračková
Additional contact information
M. Lichovníková: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
J. Jandásek: Development Department TRUMF International s.r.o., Dolní Újezd, Czech Republic
M. Jůzl: Department of Food Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
E. Dračková: Department of Animal Breeding, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

Czech Journal of Animal Science, 2009, vol. 54, issue 11, 490-497

Abstract: : In chick hatcheries, males of laying hybrids are considered to be "waste" and the majority of these males are killed just after hatching. On the other hand, the interest of consumers in products from alternative systems (organic, free-range) is increasing. The idea was to evaluate the meat quality of these males when they have access to free range because there is not such a study available. The aim of this study was to compare the physical and sensory quality of the meat of layer males with fast-growing broilers at the same age when they had both access to free range and when they were fed to 49 and 90 days of age. Slow-growing ISABROWN (IB) layer males and fast-growing Ross 308 (RS) chickens were kept in free-range conditions to evaluate carcass and meat quality at 49 days and 90 days of age. Live weight, carcass yield, breast meat yield and the proportion of abdominal fat were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in RS at both ages. The proportions of fat in the breast meat were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in IB at both ages. The value of pH 24 h was significantly higher in IB and the meat was darker (P < 0.001) in these chickens. The overall acceptability was significantly better (P < 0.01) in IB at 90 days of age. The laying males are acceptable for an alternative system of poultry meat production from the aspect of meat quality. The quality was comparable or even higher in comparison with fast-growing chickens.

Keywords: breast meat colour; fat; overall acceptability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3/2009-CJAS.html (text/html)
http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3/2009-CJAS.pdf (application/pdf)
free of charge

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:11:id:3-2009-cjas

DOI: 10.17221/3/2009-CJAS

Access Statistics for this article

Czech Journal of Animal Science is currently edited by Bc. Michaela Polcarová

More articles in Czech Journal of Animal Science from Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Ivo Andrle ().