European market regulates that poultry electronarcosis stunning in abattoirs must be performed with a minimal required current (mA per animal) and correlative frequency (Hz), to promote animal ...welfare and meat quality. In this way, Brazilian abattoirs must adjust the stunning parameters so that they can meet the requirements of that market. This study evaluated the effect of stunning parameters using frequency and duty cycle variables. For this, nine treatments were performed, whose results showed that the analyzed frequencies (700, 1100, and 1500 Hz) had a higher incidence of indicators of animal welfare (AW). Thus, stunning had low efficiency in AW terms. However, the 25% and 40% duty cycles had the best stunning efficiency. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) for pH 24 h, bruises, and drip loss. Color and pH 2 h were significantly affected (P < 0.05). The shear force was higher in birds subjected to higher frequencies and interaction between 1500 Hz and 15% and 25% duty cycles. Water-holding capacity was lower at 1100 Hz and in the 25% duty cycle interactions. The treatments affected the evaluated indicators, except for the 40% duty cycle, which had a positive influence. Therefore, the duty cycle applicability must be elucidated due to its direct influence on stunning efficiency.
RESUMO: O mercado europeu regulamenta que a insensibilização de aves por eletronarcose nos abatedouros deva acontecer com uma corrente mínima necessária (mA por animal) e frequência correlata (Hz), com corrente e frequência alta. O intuito é promover o bem estar animal e qualidade de carne. Desta forma, os abatedouros brasileiros devem ajustar os parâmetros de insensibilização para que possam atender este mercado. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito dos parâmetros de insensibilização usando as variáveis frequência e duty cycle. Foram realizados nove ensaios. Os resultados demostraram que as frequências avaliadas (700 Hz, 1100 Hz e 1500 Hz) apresentaram maior incidência nos indicadores de Bem Estar Animal (BEA). Assim, houve baixa eficiência na insensibilização das aves para este fator. Entretanto, o duty cycle 25% e 40% promoveu a melhor eficiência na insensibilização das aves. Não foi observada diferença significativa (P > 0,05) para pH 24h, hematomas e a perda por gotejamento. A cor e o pH 2h foram afetados significativamente (P < 0,05) nos ensaios avaliados. A força de cisalhamento foi maior nas frequências mais altas e na interação da frequência de 1500 Hz com o duty cycle de 15% e 25% A capacidade de retenção de água foi menor na frequência de 1100 Hz, e na interação duty cycle 25%. Os ensaios estudados apresentaram comprometimento dos indicadores avaliados, exceto a variável duty cycle a 40%, que demonstrou influência positiva nos indicadores avaliados. Portanto, a aplicabilidade do duty cycle deve ser elucidada devido a sua influência direta na eficiência da insensibilização.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim was to estimate the genetic correlations between residual feed intake (RFI) and dry matter intake (DMI) with carcass finish (CF), rib eye area (REA), and marbling (MAR) of Nellore cattle. ...Data from 7,808 animals were considered. In addition, data from 2,261 females included in the complete database were also considered. Estimates of variance and covariance components, as well as heritabilities and genetic correlations were obtained by means of two-character analysis under animal model. Heritability estimates were found to be moderate for the RFI (0.22) and DMI (0.29) traits. It was observed that genetic correlation was close to zero for all traits, except between RFI and REA (-0.11). However, considering the female population, there was an increase in the estimated genetic correlation between RFI and DMI, although still a favorable genetic association of low magnitude (-0.30). There was also an increase in the genetic association of REA with RFI (-0.21). It can be concluded that the direct selection for RFI and DMI will not influence the CF, MAR, or REA of Nellore cattle. However, this selection may generate some favorable responses in MAR and REA in Nellore females.
In the Netherlands, poultry meat production has been evolving in recent years toward broiler production systems with slow-growing broilers. In this study the effects of season, catching method, and ...thinning on carcass quality and production parameters in four different broiler production systems in the Netherlands was evaluated. The data for this study were collected from slaughterhouse data in 2018, 2019, and 2020 and contained information about four different broiler production systems: conventional (fast growing) broilers (CONV), 2 different indoor slow-growing broilers (SGB1 and SGB2), and Better Life 1 Star (BLS) concept with slow-growing broilers. The data set consisted of 14,976, 1,730, 3,713, and 1,121 records (flocks) for CONV, SGB1, SGB2, and BLS, respectively. All three production systems with slow-growing broilers had a lower slaughter weight, average daily gain (ADG), first-week mortality, and total mortality than CONV (no-thinning). ADG of SGB2 and BLS was lower than that of SGB1. Slaughter weight and ADG were the lowest when day-old chicks were placed in March/April and the highest when they were placed in September/October. All slow-growing broiler production systems had a lower footpad lesion score and a lower incidence of hock burns, leg hematomas, breast hematomas, dead-on-arrival chickens (DOA), and total rejects than CONV. Autumn flocks had more hock burns, a higher footpad lesion score, and more wing hematomas than spring flocks. More scabby hips and fewer total rejects were found during the summer months than during the winter months. Thinning flocks had more scabby hips, ammonia burns, and DOAs and fewer hock burns, footpad lesions, wing hematomas, leg hematomas, breast hematomas, and total rejects than no-thinning flocks. Mechanically caught flocks had more ammonia burns, DOAs, and total rejects than manually caught flocks. In conclusion, this study showed that all three production systems with slow-growing broilers had a lower first-week mortality and total mortality and better scores on most carcass quality parameters and welfare indicators than CONV.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of chicken claw-derived bioactive peptides on performance, carcass weight, total intestinal bacteria, and feed dry matter (DMD) and organic ...matter (OMD) digestibility of broilers. A completely randomized design and five repetitions were applied in this experiment. The research material consisted of 200 DOC strain CP-707 grown up to 35 days of age, and the biopeptide was produced by hydrolyzing chicken claws protein with a commercial papain enzyme. Bioactive peptides were added to feed treatments in amounts of 0, 2, 4, and 6%. The differences between treatments were tested using the honestly significant difference test. The addition of chicken claws biopeptides had a significant influence (P<0.01) on OMD and carcass weight, as well as a significant effect (P<0.05) on body weight gain, feed efficiency, DMD and total bacteria. Addition of chicken claws-derived peptides in rations up to 6% enhanced body weight gain, feed efficiency, carcass weight, DMD, OMD, and total intestinal bacteria in broiler chickens. Keywords: Biopeptides, Chicken, Claw, Digestibility, Carcass quality.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of chicken claw-derived bioactive peptides on performance, carcass weight, total intestinal bacteria, and feed dry matter (DMD) and organic matter (OMD) digestibility of broilers. A completely randomized design and five repetitions were applied in this experiment. The research material consisted of 200 DOC strain CP-707 grown up to 35 days of age, and the biopeptide was produced by hydrolyzing chicken claws protein with a commercial papain enzyme. Bioactive peptides were added to feed treatments in amounts of 0, 2, 4, and 6%. The differences between treatments were tested using the honestly significant difference test. The addition of chicken claws biopeptides had a significant influence (P<0.01) on OMD and carcass weight, as well as a significant effect (P<0.05) on body weight gain, feed efficiency, DMD and total bacteria. Addition of chicken claws-derived peptides in rations up to 6% enhanced body weight gain, feed efficiency, carcass weight, DMD, OMD, and total intestinal bacteria in broiler chickens. Keywords: Biopeptides, Chicken, Claw, Digestibility, Carcass quality.
Current research aimed to evaluate the effects of pasture quality and feeding management on carcass quality in fattening lambs in pasture based finishing systems. Turcana lambs and F1 German ...Blackheaded x Turcana cross-breds were used in 8 experimental groups, on two divergent production systems, conventional versus organic, respectively. On each type of pasture, two sub-variants were included, with and without concentrate feeding. Under conventional system, commercial yield of the carcasses ranged from 54.8±0.37 to 52.6±0.28 %, with both genotype and concentrates feeding influencing significantly (p≤0.05) the carcass yields. Under organic production, concentrates allowance did not influenced (p>0.05) the carcass yields of the lambs within the genotypes, being registered significant (p≤0.05) differences between the two genotypes. It was concluded that both pasture quality and concentrates allowance have a strong influence in lambs finished conventionally, and that under organic production the genotype is the main factor to influence carcass yields.
The genetic regulation of lipolytic enzyme is closely related to carcass quality traits through deposition of intramuscular fat (marbling) in beef cattle breeds. The α/β hydrolase domain containing 5 ...(ABHD5) is an accelerating factor of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), which plays a key role in triglyceride metabolism. In this study, we determined that bovine ABHD5 gene was highly expressed in adult bovine adipose tissue. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in bovine ABHD5 regulation, we cloned and characterized the promoter region of ABHD5. Applying 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA end analysis (RACE), we identified transcriptional start site (TSS) found in the predicted CpG island within promoter region of ABHD5 gene. Using the recombinant dual fluorescent reporter vectors, the fragment of –109/+307 was identified as proximal minimum core promoter region of ABHD5 in bovine intramuscular adipocytes. Site directed mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) confirmed the role of two transcription factors, namely Ectopic viral integration site-1 (Evi1) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPα), in the regulation of ABHD5 gene. Taken together these findings we can conclude that ABHD5 gene regulated by Evi1 and C/EBPα could be used as potential marker in marker assisted selection for the improvement of Qinchuan cattle breed for carcass quality traits.
•The mRNA expression level of ABHD5 was quantified in different tissue at different age groups of Qinchuan cattle.•The transcription factor binding sites of C/EBPα and Evi1 are conserved for common livestock, and their mutations lead to an increase in ABHD5 gene promoter activity in bovine intramuscular preadipocytes.•Luciferase reporter assay, site directed mutation and EMSA were used to validate the role of Evi1 and C/EBPα transcription factors in the regulation of ABHD5 gene.
The quality of broiler chicken carcasses is greatly influenced by feed management and the number of nutrients digested in the digestive tract that will be utilized for optimal meat production. The ...study aimed to determine the effect of feeding fermented feed at different times on the production performance and quality of broiler chicken carcasses. The number of day-old chicks used in this study was 180 broiler chickens strain Cobb. This study was carried out experimentally using a complete randomized design consisting of four treatments and five replications. Each treatment carried out in this experiment consisted of a different length of time, namely feeding for 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks. Experimental parameters included feed consumption, weight gain, and ration conversion. In addition, the carcass quality was investigated as live weight, carcass percentage, and percentage of broiler chicken abdominal fat. The results showed that the longer the time of fermentation feed significantly increased feed consumption by 40.07% and increased 13.77% weight gain, as well as decreased ration conversion by 25.33%. Furthermore, the same results were also obtained regarding live weight by 17.80% and increased percentage of the carcass by 8.84%, while the percentage of abdominal fat decreased by 12.90%. It can be concluded that the provision of fermented feed for 5 weeks can improve the production performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens.
Keywords: Broiler chicken, Carcass quality, Fermented feed, Performance
The quality of broiler chicken carcasses is greatly influenced by feed management and the number of nutrients digested in the digestive tract that will be utilized for optimal meat production. The study aimed to determine the effect of feeding fermented feed at different times on the production performance and quality of broiler chicken carcasses. The number of day-old chicks used in this study was 180 broiler chickens strain Cobb. This study was carried out experimentally using a complete randomized design consisting of four treatments and five replications. Each treatment carried out in this experiment consisted of a different length of time, namely feeding for 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks. Experimental parameters included feed consumption, weight gain, and ration conversion. In addition, the carcass quality was investigated as live weight, carcass percentage, and percentage of broiler chicken abdominal fat. The results showed that the longer the time of fermentation feed significantly increased feed consumption by 40.07% and increased 13.77% weight gain, as well as decreased ration conversion by 25.33%. Furthermore, the same results were also obtained regarding live weight by 17.80% and increased percentage of the carcass by 8.84%, while the percentage of abdominal fat decreased by 12.90%. It can be concluded that the provision of fermented feed for 5 weeks can improve the production performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens.
Keywords: Broiler chicken, Carcass quality, Fermented feed, Performance
Improving meat production traits has increased its importance in sheep breeding. We report novel associations of SNP present in genes related to lipid metabolism and growth with several carcass ...traits in purebred Texel lambs. Expected progeny differences (EPD) predictions from 461 animals from the Central Progeny Testing of Texel breed in Uruguay were used for the association analysis. Live weights at different stages, ultrasound and post-mortem traits were analyzed. Markers in several genes were associated with growth, carcass and meat quality traits. Among others: PPARGC1A with valuable cuts weight, hot carcass weight and carcass fatness; DGAT1 with live weights, fat thickness, rib-eye area and shoulder weight; CAST with birth weight and fat thickness; GHR with birth weight and carcass fatness, and GHRHR with live weights and fat thickness. Genotypic effects ranged from 0.035 to 0.923 (DGAT1 vs. weaning weight) units of phenotypic SD. Most of the associations described are novel in sheep breeding, deserving further analyses.
This study compares performance, body and carcass composition among castrated (CM), immunocastrated (IM) and entire males (EM), and females (FE) at 30, 70, 100 and 120 kg of body weight (total of ...n = 92; 20–24/sex type). Overall, IM had similar growth and feed intake to CM and greater than EM and FE. At each slaughter stage, IM had a lower killing-out percentage than CM and FE, in line with their heavier liver and kidneys. Flare fat proportion and backfat thickness on the ham and at the last rib level were similar for IM, EM and FE, and these were lower than CM. In EM and FE, backfat between the 3rd and 4th last ribs was lower and carcass lean content was higher than in CM, whereas IM were intermediate and not different to the other sexes. Females showed the largest ham proportion, this cut being leaner and less fatty than in CM. Belly proportion was higher in CM than in EM.
•Sex differences in performance and body composition change during growth.•Carcass quality variation among sexes is constant during growth.•Fatness of immunocastrates is close to castrate or entire males depending on position.•Females have the largest ham weight and proportion with no variation among males.•Castrates have higher belly proportion than entire males.