Analysis of a slow-growing line reveals wide genetic variability of carcass and meat quality-related traits

Abstract

BackgroundSlow-growing lines are widely used in France for the production of high quality free-range chickens. While such production is mainly dedicated to the whole carcass market, new prospects are opening up for the development of cuts and processed products. Whether the body composition and meat quality of slow-growing birds can be improved by selection has thus become an important issue. The genetic parameters of growth, body composition and breast meat quality traits were evaluated in relation to behaviour at slaughter in a large pedigree population including 1022 male and female slow-growing birds.ResultsThe heritability coefficients (h2) of body weight and body composition traits varied from 0.3 to 0.5. Abdominal fat percentage was genetically positively correlated with body weight but negatively correlated with breast muscle yield. The characteristics of the breast meat (i.e., post-mortem fall in pH, colour, drip loss, shear-force and lipid content) were all heritable, with h2 estimates ranging from 0.18 to 0.48. The rate and extent of the fall in pH were under different genetic control. Strong negative genetic correlations were found between the ultimate pH and the lightness, yellowness and drip loss of the meat. Wing flapping on the shackle line was significantly heritable and exhibited marked genetic correlations with the pH at 15 min post-slaughter and the redness of the meat. The genetic relationships between meat quality traits, body weight and body composition appeared slightly different between males and females.ConclusionThis study suggested that there are a number of important criteria for selection on carcass and breast meat quality in slow-growing birds. Selection for reduced abdominal fatness and increased breast muscle yield should be effective as both traits were found to be highly heritable and favourably correlated. Substantial improvement in meat quality could be achieved by selection on ultimate pH which was highly heritable and strongly correlated with the colour and water-holding capacity of the meat. Moreover, this study revealed for the first time that the behaviour at slaughter is partly genetically determined in the chicken.

Relationships between technological and nutritional meat quality parameters in local poultry populations (<i>Gallus gallus</i>) of Benin

“…Our results were consistent with the reports of Askit et al (2006) in Ross 308 broiler and Chabault et al (2012) in free range naked-neck chickens. Franco et al (2013) also found a negative correlation (r = -0.38; p < 0.01) between L* and pH was found in Sasso T-44 line and Mos breed chickens.…”

“…This finding corroborates the results of Chabault et al (2012) who reported positive genetic correlation between intramuscular fat content and luminance (r g = 0.42) as well as the shear force (r g =0.57) in free range naked-neck chickens, a slow-growing line selected by the SASSO breeding company. Previous studies had reported positive genetic correlations of abdominal fat weight and abdominal fat percentage with carcass weight in chickens (Deeb and Lamont, 2002;Musa et al, 2006).…”

“…Furthermore, except dry matter content, ash content, luminance and yellowness, protein content was negatively correlated with the others technological and nutritional meat quality parameters with the high negative correlations found with the shear force and redness in all genetic types studied in the present work. As found herein, Chabault et al (2012) found strong negative genetic correlations between the ultimate pH and the lightness, yellowness and drip loss of the meat. Similarly, Fletcher (1999) had reported high negatives correlations between pH and lightness (P<0.001; r = -0.636) and yellowness (P<0.01; r = -0.2).…”

Influence of Pre-Slaughter Capture Chase Duration Stress on Carcass and Meat Quality of Indigenous Chicken Reared Under Traditional System in Benin.

“…The yields of the thigh-drumstick results of the current study according to the sex are opposite to those of Chabault et al, (2012). They reported in commercial lines that for a given age, the breast and the thigh yields are often higher with females due to their most precocity muscle development in comparison to males.…”

VLDLR gene polymorphism associated with abdominal fat in Gaoyou domestic duck breed

“…In poultry, high genetic correlations were observed between abdominal fat weight and subcutaneous fat, while there were almost no genetic correlations between abdominal fat weight and intramuscular fat percentage (Zerehdaran et al 2004;Lotfi et al 2011). Selection for reduced abdominal fatness and/or increased breast muscle yield should be effective as both traits were found to be highly heritable and favourably correlated (Ikeobi et al 2002;Jennen et al 2004;Chabault et al 2012). …”