Deutscher Tropentag, October 9 - 11, 2002 in Kassel-Witzenhausen "Challenges to Organic Farming and Sustainable Land Use in the Tropics and Subtropics"

A Comparative Study of Thai Native Chicken and Broiler on Productive Performance, Carcass and Meat Quality

¹Chiang Mai University, Department of Animal Science, Thailand
²Georg-August University Göttingen, Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Germany

Abstract

A study of productive performance, carcass and meat quality of Thai Native chicken (N) and Abor Acres broiler (B) was conducted using a completely random design. The native chicken were fed ad libitum with commercial layer diet and the broiler a commercial broiler diet. All chickens were slaughtered at market size, the slaughtered weights of N and B were around 1.2 and 1.9 kg respectively. Carcass and meat quality of the two different chicken breeds were investigated. The results showed that body weight at 0 - 6 weeks, average daily gain and feed intake at 0-2, 2-4 and 4-6 weeks of N were less than those of B (p<0.01). Furthermore, feed conversion ratio at 0-2 and 2-4 weeks of N were higher than of B (p<0.01) but there was no significant difference at 4-6 weeks. The mortality rate of B was higher than of N (p<0.05) at 0-2 and 2-4 weeks, however, at 4-6 weeks there was no significant difference. The feed cost per kg gain of N was higher than of B (p<0.01). Among carcass characteristics the dressing percentage of N was less than of B (p<0.05), in contrast, the percentages of retail cuts in terms of thigh and Pectoralis Minor of N were higher compared to B (p<0.05) as well as wing (p<0.01) and drumstick (p<0.05). There were quite similar percentages of internal and external organ. The indirect meat quality in terms of pH value and cooking loss percentage was higher in the case of B (p<0.05). However, thawing loss, drip loss and nutritive value showed no significant difference between the groups. Meanwhile, L and b values of B were higher than N (p<0.01). The shear value of N in terms of maximum shear force (N), energy (J) and distance (mm) had higher values compared to B (p<0.01).

Keywords: Broiler, carcass, meat, native thai chicken, productive performance

Contact Address: Udo ter Meulen, Georg-August University Göttingen, Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany, e-mail: umeulengwdg.de