Effect of Thermal Embryonic Manipulation on the Quality of Male and Female Broiler Meat Submitted to Thermal Stress Pre-Slaughter

Abstract

Adverse environmental conditions during rearing may negatively affect productivity and meat quality of the modern fast-growing broiler strains. Temperature manipulation during sensitive embryonic development periods may affect broilers' physiological responses to environmental conditions during rearing on commercial farms. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of temperature manipulation during incubation and breeder age on the meat quality of male and female broilers submitted to heat stress during the preslaughter period. In this experiment, 1280 broiler chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in a 2x2x2 factorial arrangement. Treatments consisted of two breeder ages (30 and 60 weeks), two temperature programs applied in the last four days of incubation (standard or high temperature), and sex (male and female). Birds were submitted to 32 °C for 48 hours before slaughter, on day 46.Meat quality parameters (pH, temperature, color, and weight loss) were evaluated. There was significant effect (p<0.05) of sex on meat redness (a*) and fat percentage, with females presenting higher values than males in both measurements. Males incubated at the higher temperature presented higher (p<0.05) meat weight loss by pressure than females. The thermal manipulation applied during the final stage of incubation did not affect the meat yield or meat quality of broilers submitted to heat stress.

Prenatal auditory stimulation induces physiological stress responses in developing embryos and newly hatched chicks

“…Interestingly, earlier work in poultry suggests that a certain magnitude of prenatal stress may positively affect neonatal chicks. For example, thermal manipulation at sensitive embryonic phases during the last days of incubation ( Tzschentke and Plageman, 2006 ; Fernandes et al, 2016 ), such as using certain degrees and durations of heat or cold exposure, induced long-lasting thermotolerance in poultry during postnatal life ( Shinder et al., 2002 ; Piestun et al, 2008 ; Al-Zghoul, 2018 ). Loyau et al (2014) suggested the importance of epigenetic in modulating the thermal tolerance mechanisms.…”

Increasing Heat Tolerance in Broiler by Using Thermal Manipulation During Embryonic Development

“…Also, Thermal manipulation broilers, developed more specific pathways than control group, especially involving genes related to metabolism, stress response, vascularization, anti-apoptotic and epigenetic processes [26]. Also, Thermal manipulation broilers…”

Growth performance and hepatic antioxidants responses to early thermal conditioning in broiler chickens

“…This practice involves exposing birds to an elevated ambient temperature for a few hours during the second half of the embryonic development or during their first week of life, to modify their thermoregulatory response and improve their ability to cope with heat stress during the growth phase (Tona et al, 2008; Yahav & Mcmurtry, 2001). Several studies stated that optimum beneficial effects of pre‐hatch thermal conditioning could be achieved through performing the practice at different periods during the 11th to the 18th day of incubation and that a temperature of 38.5–39.5°C (Fernandes et al, 2016; Moraes et al, 2003; Piestun et al, 2009).…”