Comparison of Selected Meat Qualities of Broiler Chickens as Affected by Feed Restriction and Strain at Finisher Phase

Abstract

The present investigation aimed at comparing meat qualities of broiler chickens reared on deep litter as affected by skip-a-day feed restriction and strain. A total number of two hundred and eighty-eight (288) unsexed day-old broilers comprising of 96 chicks each of Arbor acre, Marshall and Hubbard strains of broiler chickens raised on intensive housing systems were used to evaluate the organoleptic attributes. The chicks were allotted randomly to 12 pens per strain. The birds were distributed into four treatments with three replicates per treatment. An organoleptic test was carried out using the breast muscle at the 8th week. The cuts were salted and kept inside labeled polythene bags and steamed to the temperature of 72ᶿC. A total of ten trained individuals aged between 20 and 30 years (males and females) were employed to assess the coded meat samples. Equal bite size from each treatment was coded, replicated thrice, and served for evaluation by the trainees. Analyzed results revealed that the organoleptic parameters such as Aroma, flavor, tenderness, juiciness, texture, and overall acceptability were not significantly affected by both the different feeding regimes and strains of broiler chickens.