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Physiological effects of transport duration on stress biomarkers and meat quality of medium-growing Yellow broiler chickens

Research Authors
Z. Gou; K.F.M. Abouelezz, Q. Fan; L. Li; X. Lin; Y. Wang; X. Cui; J. Ye; M. A. Masoud; S. Jiang; X. Ma
Research Abstract

Pre-slaughter transport exerts negative effects on broilers’ welfare, meat yield, and meat quality, but little is known about the effect of transport on medium-growing broiler chickens. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of different durations of transport (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 h) on stress biomarkers and meat quality of medium-growing Yellow-feathered broiler chickens. One hundred and eighty Chinese Yellow-feathered broilers aged 75 days (marketing age), of 2.02 kg average BW, were allotted into five groups; each group contained six replicates (six birds/replicate (crate)). Each crate with dimensions 74 × 55 × 27 cm (length × width × height) was loaded with six birds, that is, 30 kg live BW/m2 crate. The tested transport durations increased BW loss (linear, P < 0.01), plasma concentrations of ACTH (linear, P < 0.10), cortisol and corticosterone (quadratic, P < 0.05), and activity of glutathione peroxidase (linear, P < 0.05), whereas plasma glucose was not affected. In breast muscle, contents of glycogen, lactic acid, malondialdehyde, and reduced glutathione were not affected (P > 0.05), but total antioxidant capacity decreased (linear, P < 0.01). The drip loss of breast muscle increased (linear, P < 0.01), whereas shear force, pH at 24 h postmortem, and breast meat color lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) scores were not affected. In conclusion, the tested transport durations (from 0.5 to 3 h) increased BW loss and some plasma stress biomarkers in 75-day-old Yellow-feathered broiler chickens, but the effect on meat quality attributes was minor.

Research Department
Research Journal
Animal
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
NULL
Research Website
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731120300811
Research Year
2020
Research Pages
100079