Effect of strain and slaughter age on production performance, meat quality and processing characteristics of broilers reared under tropical climatic conditions
Iftikhar Hussain Badar, Muhammad Hayat Jaspal, Muhammad Kashif Yar, Muhammad Ijaz, Anjum Khalique, Lixin Zhang, Adeel Manzoor, Sher Ali, Aminur Rahman, F. Husnain
Abstract
The study was designed to determine the production performance, meat quality and processing characteristics of four broiler strains (Hubbard Classic®, Arbor Acre Plus®, Ross-308®, and Cobb-500®) at different slaughtering age reared in the hot and humid environment of tropical climatic conditions. Total 2040 chicks of 4 strains with 102 birds in five replicates were reared at commercial research and development farm, and 30 birds were randomly selected from every replicate and slaughtered at 28, 35, and 42 days of age. Broilers were analysed for average weekly body weight , weight gain , feed consumed, feed conversion ratio (FCR), mortality, dressing and breast percentages (%). Meat quality and processing characteristics such as pH, colour attributes, drip loss , marination, cooking loss, and shear force values were also evaluated. Among four broiler strains, Ross-308 showed higher average body weight, weight gain, dressing %, breast %, and lower feed consumption and FCR than the other three trains. Hubbard Classic presented higher cooked yield and tenderness than those of the other three strains. Arbor Acre Plus and Cobb-500 revealed comparable meat quality and processing characteristics. On the other hand, Ross-308 showed significantly lower pH values and higher lightness (CIE L*), drip loss , shear force, brine uptake, brine loss and cooking loss compared to the other three strains. In conclusion, Ross-308 presented higher production performance, whereas Hubbard Classic showed better meat quality and processing characteristics. Amongst different slaughtering ages, the birds slaughtered at 35 days exhibited higher production performance, meat quality and processing characteristics.