- 219 views
- 360 downloads
On-Farm and Ante Mortem Factors Affecting Broiler Quality
-
- Author / Creator
- Schneider, Brenda
-
Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of nutrition, temperature during
feed withdrawal, shackling duration, sex and age at processing on broiler quality. Low
energy (94% of recommended) diets resulted in a lower percentage of carcass fat while
increasing the percentage of carcass protein. Low protein (85% of recommended)
resulted in a decreased percentage of carcass protein while carcass fat increased. Low
protein diets also limited frame size as measured by length and width of P. major.
Exposure to 9 C temperatures during feed withdrawal resulted in improved meat quality
as measured by higher ultimate pH, lower drip loss and darker color. Long shackling time
(120 s) did not affect ultimate pH, drip or cooking losses compared to short shackling
(<10 s); however, short shackled broilers exhibited poorer tenderness values. Males had
higher carcass protein and lower fat than females. Females exhibited higher ultimate pH,
higher drip loss and lighter breast meat. Drip loss and ultimate pH decreased with age.
Processing age and sex of broilers may have greater influences on meat quality than
previously reported. -
- Subjects / Keywords
-
- Graduation date
- Fall 2009
-
- Type of Item
- Thesis
-
- Degree
- Master of Science
-
- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.