Slaughter performance and meat quality of three Italian chicken breeds

Abstract

A trial was carried out to study the slaughter performance and the meat quality of three Italian dual-purpose chicken breeds: Ermellinata di Rovigo (ER), Robusta lionata (RL) and Robusta maculata (RM). Females were studied from June to October from 47 days of life until slaughtered age, at 138 (I age) and 168 (II age) days of age. Each genotype had access to outdoor and indoor spaces. RL and RM birds showed a higher final body weight, and provided heavier carcass and commercial cuts than ER (P<0.01), at both ages. The dressing-out percentage of RL and RM females was more favourable than ER ones, in particular at II age (P<0.01). Differences in carcass conformation were observed at II age: the ER carcass showed a higher (P<0.01) proportion of leg and wing. The RM carcass had a higher (P<0.01) proportion of breast. The thigh meat/ bone ratio was higher in RL at I age (P<0.01) and II (P<0.05) age. Significant differences in breast colour were observed among the breeds; ER thigh showed the highest (P<0.05) a* value. At II age, lipids were lower (P<0.01) in ER breast; thigh lipids were similar among the groups. Slaughtering at I age seem to be more advantageous for the ER breed since it is more precocious.

Key words:

• Chicken
• Breed
• Slaughter performance
• Meat quality