Authors : Paphapin Puttaraksa, Wittawat Molee and Sutisa Khempaka
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of rearing system on meat quality of Thai indigenous chickens. Three hundred and sixty 1 day old chicks were randomly allocated into 2 treatments: indoor treatment, housing in an indoor pen (5 birds/m2) or outdoor access treatment, housing in an indoor pen (5 birds/m2) with access to a grass paddock (1 bird/m2) from 8 weeks of age until slaughter. All birds were provided with the same diet during the experimental period. At 16th weeks of age, 24 birds per treatment were slaughtered to evaluate the quality of breast and thigh meat. The results showed that there was no difference in nutrient composition of breast meat among treatments (p>0.05). However, thigh meat from outdoor access treatment had higher protein content than that of indoor treatment (p<0.05). There was no difference in drip loss of breast and thigh meat among treatments (p>0.05). Breast and thigh meat from outdoor access treatment had a higher shear force value (p = 0.05) than from indoor treatment. Thigh meat from outdoor access treatment was higher in soluble, insoluble and total collagen contents compared with indoor treatment (p<0.05). Breast and thigh meat from outdoor access treatment was less red (a*; p<0.05) and more yellow (b*; p<0.05) than those from indoor treatment. Breast skin from outdoor access treatment had more yellow than that of indoor treatment (p<0.05). The data indicated that Thai indigenous chickens raised with outdoor access could significantly increase shear value and collagen content in meat and increase yellow color in breast skin.
Paphapin Puttaraksa, Wittawat Molee and Sutisa Khempaka, 2012. Meat Quality of Thai Indigenous Chickens Raised Indoors or with Outdoor Access. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 975-978.