Effect of Free Fange Production System on Slower-Growing Broiler Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality

Abstract

The experiment was conducted to study the effect of deep litter system, free-range with fixed housing system and free-range with portable housing system in wheat stubble on carcass characteristics and meat quality of slow-growing broiler chickens. The number of 270 slow-growing Hubbard Isa Red-JA chicks was used in experiment. Number of 12 slow-growing broilers from each production system and totally 36 slow-growing broilers was selected for detection of carcass and meat quality characteristics. Results showed that production system has a significant effect on carcass yield, leg and wing ratios (P<0.05), but has not any effect on breast, back and neck ratios (P>0.05). Production system was also not effected in terms of pH, color, protein content, fat, ash, dry matter and water holding capacity of breast meat (P>0.05), but has a significant effect in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids of breast meat (P<0.01). While there was a significant difference between production systems in terms of monounsaturated fatty acid miristoleik acit (P<0.5), there were any significant difference in terms of other fatty acids (P>0.05). Free-range with fixed housing system has an advantage than other systems in terms of nutrient content, polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acid miristoleik acit of breast meat.