The effect of climatic conditions on the quality of medium-growth chicken meat in organic production systems

Abstract

[EN] A total of 160 medium-growth male chicks were studied individually from the first day of their lives until slaughter (120 days). The chicks were classified according to the weather of the breeding period (P1 and P2). A total of 80 chickens were used for each breeding period (8 repetitions with a total of 10 chickens per group). The characteristics of the weather period were defined based on the information provided by the Agroclimatic Information System for Irrigation (SiAR); P1 period was colder than P2 period. All birds were given the same diet. After 120 days, the animals were taken to a certified slaughterhouse for organic meat where they were slaughtered. A total of 48 chicks (24 per period) were randomly selected, and subsequently, the breast (Pectoralis major) were extracted to perform the quality analysis. Chicks raised in the colder period (P1) had higher live weights and higher slaughter weights (P < 0.01). The front quarters were not affected (P > 0.05), the weight of the breast was higher in the chicks raised in the warmer period (P < 0.01). Regarding meat quality parameters, the moisture content was significantly lower (P < 0.05) for samples of warmer period but the pH (P < 0.01) and the redness value (a*) (P < 0.05) were higher, while the remainder of the parameters was not affected. It can be concluded that weather conditions in outdoor production systems do not have a direct effect on meat quality.