Carcass Color in Broilers When Replacing Wheat with Corn in the Diet.

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Nutrition
• Food Science

Background:

• Dietary ingredients significantly impact broiler meat quality.
• Understanding color distribution is crucial for broiler carcass evaluation.
• Cereal composition, like corn vs. wheat, can influence meat coloration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of substituting wheat with corn on broiler carcass color distribution.
• To identify specific carcass regions affected by dietary corn inclusion.
• To evaluate the influence of corn on meat color parameters (CIEL*a*b* space).

Main Methods:

• One thousand two hundred ROSS 308 male chicks were fed either corn or wheat-based diets.
• Color measurements were taken on 15 carcasses per treatment 24 hours post-slaughter.
• A MINOLTA CM600d spectrocolorimeter was used to measure color at 12 carcass locations.

Main Results:

• Broiler carcass color distribution is non-homogeneous, with significant differences between skin-on and skin-off areas.
• Corn-based diets resulted in darker meat (increased L*) and higher yellowness (increased a*) compared to wheat-based diets.
• Corn inclusion reduced color variation across carcass regions, particularly when skin was present, and diminished shank color differences.

Conclusions:

• Dietary corn influences broiler meat color, leading to darker and yellower meat compared to wheat.
• Skin plays a role in homogenizing carcass color, masking some regional differences.
• Hue° may indicate breast color variations due to dietary changes, suggesting its potential as a quality indicator.