Effect of the length of feed withdrawal on weight loss, yield and meat color of broiler

D. H. Kim, Y. M. Yoo, S. H. Kim, B. G. Jang, B. Y. Park, S. H. Cho, P. N. Seong, K. H. Hah, J. M. Lee, Y. K. Kim, I. H. Hwang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The current study was conducted to determine the optimum length of feed withdrawal for pre-harvest broilers. A total of three hundred broilers were sampled from an industrial population, and 30 chicks for each weight group (e.g., 1.5 and 2.5 kg) were randomly assigned to feed withdrawal treatments for 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h. Weight loss, yield, muscle pH, objective meat color and weights of gastro intestinal contents, crop, gizzard, provenriculus, small intestine, caecum, and rectum were determined. Live weight loss was significantly (p<0.05) increased as length of feed withdrawal extended. A significant (p<0.05) carcass yield for both 1.5 and 2.5 kg groups coincided after 9 and 6 h feed withdrawal, respectively. Net weights of intestinal contents for crop and gizzard were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by 6 h, and the reduction for proventriculus and small intestine occurred from 3 h. A noticeable effect of feed withdrawal on pH for breast muscle at 3 h postmortem occurred only when chicks were fasted for 3 h of which pH (6.05) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that for other groups including the control (5.74). There was a linear tendency of higher lightness (Hunter L* value) numerically for chicks fasted for longer periods. The highest coefficient of determinations of regression models to estimate weight loss as a function of fasting period and body weights were achieved, when the models included both linear and quadratic terms for fasting period, and linear term for both 1.5 (R2 = 0.76) and 2.5 kg (R2 = 0.78) body weight groups. Given the practical aspect, approximately 1.5 kg of body weight is dominant, weight loss could be predicted by the following function; live weight loss = 26.6-0.28×(fasting period)2+12.34×pasting period-0.012×body weight, R2 = 0.76. Current data implied that the optimum fasting time for preslaughter chicks varied depending on slaughter weight; 6 and 9-h fasting were recommendable for 2.5 and 1.5 kg chicks, with little effect on objective meat color.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)106-111
Number of pages6
JournalAsian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007 Jan
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Broiler
  • Feed withdrawal
  • Meat color
  • Weight loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Food Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of the length of feed withdrawal on weight loss, yield and meat color of broiler'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this