Functional/physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of ground meat from broilers reared under different...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Food Science
• Poultry Production

Background:

• Broiler industry commonly uses long photoperiods to enhance animal performance.
• The effects of photoperiod on broiler meat quality are not well understood.
• Understanding photoperiod's impact is crucial for optimizing broiler production and meat quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of different photoperiods on the functional, physicochemical, and oxidative stability properties of broiler meat.
• To determine if specific photoperiods influence meat quality attributes such as pH, water-holding capacity, texture, color, protein solubility, and lipid oxidation.
• To provide insights into optimizing lighting conditions for improved broiler meat quality.

Main Methods:

• Ross 308 broilers were assigned to four photoperiod treatments: 20L:4D, 18L:6D, 16L:8D, and 12L:12D.
• Meat samples (tenderloin and leg muscles) were collected at 42 days of age and stored.
• Functional properties, physicochemical attributes (pH, WHC, texture, color), protein solubility, and lipid oxidation (TBARS) were analyzed in broiler patties.

Main Results:

• Photoperiod did not significantly affect pH, water-holding capacity, texture, emulsion activity, or thiol content.
• Shorter photoperiods (12L:12D and 16L:8D) resulted in lower yellowness (CIE b*) and color intensity (chroma) compared to longer photoperiods.
• Longer photoperiods (20L:4D, 18L:6D) led to decreased sarcoplasmic and total protein solubility and increased protein denaturation.
• The 12L:12D photoperiod demonstrated reduced lipid oxidation during display storage.

Conclusions:

• Photoperiod has a limited but notable impact on specific broiler meat quality characteristics, particularly color and protein denaturation.
• A 12L:12D lighting schedule appears beneficial for broiler meat quality by reducing protein denaturation and enhancing lipid oxidative stability.
• Further research can explore the mechanisms behind these photoperiod-induced changes to refine broiler management practices.