Vol. 10, Special Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
Ramakrishnan C, Karthiga S and Chilambarasan M

Abstract:
Pre-slaughter transport affects the meat yield, and meat quality, but little is known about the effect of transport on medium-growing broiler chickens. This study aimed at evaluating stress effects due to different durations of transport (0, 1, 2, and 3 h) and meat quality of medium-growing broiler chickens. One hundred feathered broilers aged 45 days (marketing age), of 1.52 kg average BW, were allotted into five groups; each group contained five replicates (five birds/replicate or cage). Each transport cage with dimensions 75 × 54 × 27 cm (length × width × height) was loaded with six birds. The tested transport durations increased BW loss (linear, P<0.01), drip loss of breast muscle increased (linear, P<0.01), whereas shear force, pH at 24 h post-mortem, and breast meat colour lightness, redness, and yellowness scores were not affected. In conclusion, the tested transport durations (from 1 to 3 h) increased BW loss and affect the meat quality in 45-day-old broiler chickens.