Title of article :
Effect of sex on slaughter performance and meat quality of Ermellinata di Rovigo chickens
Author/Authors :
Chiara Rizzi، نويسنده , , Maristella Baruchello، نويسنده , , Gian Maria Chiericato، نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2009
Abstract :
In this trial male and female chickens belonging to a dual-purpose Italian breed, Ermellinata di Rovigo (ER), were reared under a free-range production system (June-October) from 47 days of life until slaughter age, at 138 (I age) and 168 (II age) days of age. At both ages, the final body weight, the dressing-out percentage and the ready-to-cook carcass weight were higher (P<0.01) in males. At II age the female carcass showed higher (P<0.01) proportion of breast and lower (P<0.01) proportion of leg. At both ages, the redness index (a*) of breast and thigh were lower (P<0.01) in females, whereas the yellowness index (b*) showed the opposite trend; the females showed higher lipids in breast meat (P<0.05), thigh meat (P<0.01) and skin (P<0.01). The breast tenderness did not change. The results indicate that the ER birds have a different live body weight, slaughter performance and meat quality according to sex, both at I and II age. At 168 days, under the studied environmental conditions, the chickens were in prepubertal period and the sex affected the dressing-out percentage, meat colour and skin lipids in particular.
Keywords :
sex , Slaughter performance , chicken , meat quality
Journal title :
Italian Journal of Animal Science
Journal title :
Italian Journal of Animal Science