[Meat quality in broilers reared in different housing systems]

Meat quality was assessed in Cobb-500 cage vs. floor-housed broilers slaughtered at 38 vs 49 days of age. Broilers (105 birds per housing system) were reared since 1 day of age in conditions of vivarium of Center for Selection and Genetics «Zagorskoye EPH». Fat content in breast meat was significantly higher (p<0.05) at both slaughter ages in cage-housed broilers (2.0 and 2.7% at slaughter age 38 and 49 days, respectively) compared to floor-housed (1.6 and 2.2%). Protein content in breast meat was higher in floor-caged broilers. Total collagen content in thigh meat of floor housed broilers (789.88 mg/100 g) was 1.5 fold higher compared to cage-housed (515.80 mg/100 g, p<0.05). Fatty acid profiles of meat were mostly affected by the type of meat (red vs white) and to a lesser extent by housing system and slaughter age. Water-holding capacity in red meat significantly differed between slaughter ages and between housing systems at slaughter age 38 days (р<0.05): at slaughter age 38 days water-holding capacity in red meat was 67.3 in cage-housed broilers vs. 70.1% in floor-housed; at slaughter age 49 days 74.9 vs. 76.0%, respectively. The five-point scores of sensory taste evaluation for the meat of floor-housed broilers (4.55 and 4.91 for breast meat at slaughter ages 38 and 49 days; 4.40 and 4.90 for thigh meat) were better compared to cage-housed (4.47 and 4.83 for breast meat at slaughter ages 38 and 49 days; 4.37 and 4.70 for thigh meat). The conclusion was made that meat quality estimated by a set of the relevant parameters was marginally better in floor housed broilers in compare to cage-housed.