• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1482-1498
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• 2000

This paper reviews the meat-type chicken breeding with local breeds in China. The quality chickens are defined as purebred final products of local breeds, and semi-quality chickens as crossbreds of local breeds with specialized broiler (sire or dam) lines from western breeding organizations. The present status of the chicken production and the market in China, in comparison with the western countries, is reviewed, indicating that there is large market demand for (semi-) quality chickens in the present and future China. Breeding for (semi-) quality chickens emphasizes the sensory quality of chicken meat. The present status of breeding for (semi-) quality chickens with the local breeds is illustrated, including breeding goals and the existing breeding programs. The potential role of local breeds in breeding programs in China is discussed in relation to both providing higher quality (than commercial hybrid broilers) of chicken meat for the local market and meeting the objectives of genetic resource conservation. Besides, further research topics on breeding for (semi-) quality chickens are suggested.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.567-576
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• 2022

Objective: An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast (EconomasE^®) on the growth performance, visceral organ weight, meat quality, and oxidative stability of broiler chickens. Methods: Nine hundred sixty, day-old male broiler chickens (Cobb, 43.97±0.55 g) were divided into three dietary treatments and allocated into 12 deep litter pens in a completely randomized design giving 4 replicate cages for each treatment. Three dietary treatments were: i) control (CON, basal diet with sufficient nutrient), ii) vitamin E (VitE, basal diet supplemented with 100 IU VitE), and iii) Algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast (EcoE, basal diet supplemented with 0.2% algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast: EconomasE^®). Maize soybean meal based basal diets were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrition requirement for broiler chickens. Chickens were fed ad-libitum experimental diets during the 42 days experiment period. On days 21 and 42, body weight and feed intake were measured to calculate the feed conversion ratio of the chickens. Intestine and visceral organs were measured together with meat quality and oxidative stability on days 14 and 42. Results: Chickens fed with EcoE showed improved (p<0.05) growth performance, meat quality, and higher (p<0.05) oxidative stability compared to the chicken fed on CON. Moreover, broiler chickens fed with EcoE showed similar (p<0.05) growth performance with better (p<0.05) meat quality and higher oxidative stability compared to the broiler chickens fed VitE (p<0.05). Conclusion: The algae-based antioxidant containing Se yeast can be supplemented into commercial broiler diets as a substitution of VitE while maintaining growth performance with enhancing meat quality and oxidative stability of the broiler chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.987-997
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• 2016

The objective of the study was to compare the carcass characteristics, meat quality, and blood parameters of slow and fast grown female broiler chickens fed in organic or conventional production system. The two genotypes tested were medium slow-growing chickens (SG, Hubbard Red JA) and commercial fast-growing chickens (FG, Ross 308). Both genotypes (each represented by 400 chickens) were divided into two sub-groups fed either organic (O) or conventional (C) systems. Chickens of each genotype and system were raised in a semi environmentally controlled poultry house until 21 d of age and were assigned to 5 pens of 40 chickens each. Then, O system chickens were transferred into an open-side poultry house with an outdoor run. At 81 d of age, 10 female chickens from each genotype and from each production system (n = 40) were randomly chosen to provide material for analysis, and were weighed and brought to the slaughterhouse to assess carcass characteristics and meat quality. The blood parameters were determined by using 5 female chickens from each genotype and from each production system (n = 20). FG had the higher live weight, along with carcass, breast, and thigh-drumstick weights compared to SG (p<0.05). FG had the higher breast yield, whereas SG had the higher thigh-drumstick yield (p<0.05). The O system resulted in a higher amount of abdominal fat (p<0.05). In addition, the O system values were higher for dry matter, crude ash, crude protein, and $pH^{15}$ values in breast meat, and for crude ash, crude protein, and $pH^{15}$ values in drumstick meat (p<0.05). In addition, total saturated fatty acids, total mono-unsaturated fatty acids, and total omega 3 were significantly higher in the O system than in the C system. Thus, the O system showed a positive advantage compared to the C system regarding female chicken meat quality, primarily within the ash, protein, and total omega 3 fatty acid profiles. In conclusion, the present study indicated that the main factor affecting the carcass characteristics of female chickens was genotype, whereas the organic system contributed to enhanced meat quality. These findings provide a better understanding of the relative roles of genotype and production systems in female broiler characteristics, and might aid producers in designing their facilities to optimize yield and quality while maintaining acceptable animal welfare standards.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.527-534
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• 2012

This study investigated changes in the quality properties of deep frying oil and fried chickens according to frying number. Acid values of frying oil and fried chicken after frying 110 chickens were 2.27 and 1.90, respectively. The peroxide values of frying oil did not increase uniformly as frying number increased. Conjugated dienoic acid value of frying oil and fried chicken after frying 110 chickens were 0.70 and 0.44, respectively. Regarding the fatty acid composition after frying 110 chickens, linoleic and linolenic acids decreased, whereas palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids increased. Contents of trans fatty acids in frying oil and fried chicken after frying 110 chickens were 0.75% and 0.45%, respectively. Contents of benzo [a] pyrene in frying oil and fried chicken after frying 110 chickens were 2.20 and 2.19 ${\mu}g/kg$, respectively. The quality properties of frying oil and fried chickens significantly decreased after frying 60 chickens.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1153-1156
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• 2005

An experiment was conducted with three hundred and twenty broiler chickens to evaluate the influence of supplementation of probiotic on growth, microbiological status and carcass quality of chickens. The probiotic contained similar proportions of six strains of variable organisms namely Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Aspergillus oryzae, Streptococcus faecium and Torulopsis sps and was fed at 100 mg/kg diet. The body weight and feed conversion of probiotic fed groups were superior (p<0.05) compared to the control group in the 4th, 5th and 6th weeks. The chickens fed the diet with probiotic had lower (p<0.05) numbers of coliforms and Campylobacter than chickens fed the control diet. All chickens' carcasses on the control diet were positive for Salmonella while only 16 of the 40 carcasses were positive from chickens fed diets containing probiotic. The leg and breast meat of probiotic fed chickens were higher (p<0.05) in moisture, protein and ash, and lower in fat as compared to the leg and breast meat of control chickens.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.457-460
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• 2022

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Ptecticus tenebrifer powder on the mortality and meat quality of Korean native chickens. A total of 40,000 Korean native chickens (1 day old, Hanhyup No. 3) were allocated to two dietary treatments (20,000 chickens in each treatment), which were fed the following: basal diet (control) and 1% of Ptecticus tenebrifer powder (T1). Feeding trials were conducted for 12 weeks, and mortality was measured weekly. At the end of the experimental period, 16 chickens (8 chickens in each treatment) were selected and slaughtered to obtain breast meat. The items used to analyze meat quality were pH, TBARS, and meat color. The weekly mortality rate was decreased by around 2 to 3 times in the T1 treatment group compared with the control group. The pH, TBARS, L^*, and b^* values of Korean native chicken breast were not affected by Ptecticus tenebrifer powder supplementation (p>0.05); however, a^* values showed statistical significance (p<0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 1% Ptecticus tenebrifer powder reduced mortality rate and demonstrated its potential in livestock environmental management.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.103-114
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• 1989

Reciprocal crosses were conducted between three strains of Taiwan Country chickens, developed in the National Chung-Hsing University, and two strains of Single Comb White Leghorns, developed in the Taiwan Livestock Research Institute. Traits studied were growing performances, laying performances, egg quality traits and traits concerning disease resistance, including resistance to Marek's disease virus and immune responses to Newcastle disease virus vaccine and to sheep red blood cell. Results indicated that laying performances of Taiwan country chickens were much inferior to White Leghorns, but they matured earlier, their eggs had better shell strength and larger proportion of yolk, and their general disease resistance was much better than White Leghorns. Heterosis were found in laying performances and egg quality traits. The heterosis in laying traits was so large that the hybrid laid as many eggs and as large eggs as did pure strains of White Leghorns. Strategies on the improvement of native chickens and the utilization of genetic merits of native chickens were also discussed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1407-1416
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of genotype (slower-growing vs. fast-growing) and production system (access to outdoors vs. indoor) on the growth performance, carcass yield and meat quality (chemical composition, physicochemical and sensory properties) of chickens. The experiment was performed on 1,040 day-old hybrid male chickens of two genotypes. Slower-growing chickens (Hubbard JA957, certified) and fast-growing chickens (Hubbard F15) were fed identical diets until 65 days of age. Both genotypes (each represented by 520 birds) were divided into two subgroups and were raised in pens on litter with outdoor access or in indoor confinement without outdoor access (four replications per subgroup, each of 65 birds). Until day 21, the birds stayed in the indoor facility, in deep-litter pens. The birds could forage on pasture 12 h daily, commencing at three weeks of age. Stocking density was 0.13 $m^2$ floor space per bird in pens on litter, and 0.8 $m^2$ per bird in grassy yards. Compared with fast-growing, slower-growing chickens were significantly lighter (by 17%), had a lower breast and thigh muscle yield and a higher abdominal fat content, but they were characterized by higher survival rates at 65 days, a higher protein content and a lower fat content of breast meat. Outdoor access had no negative effects on the growth performance, muscle yield, the fatty acid profile and oxidative status of meat lipids. The meat of free-range chickens was darker in color, it had a higher protein content and a better water-holding capacity, but it was less juicy than the meat of birds raised indoors.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1075-1082
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• 2023

Objective: Animal feed companies and researchers are currently embarking on quests for feed additives that could combat the pathogens while promoting growth as well as maintaining quality products. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of onion extracts on growth performance, carcass quality, and bone morphometrics of broiler chickens. Methods: A total number of 200 one-day-old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chicks were assigned to 5 treatment groups, replicated 4 times. Each replicate (pens) held 10 chickens in a completely randomized design. The experimental diets were then randomly allotted to the pens which act as experimental units. The isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets were formulated by including onion extracts at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 25 g/kg in a complete broiler diet. Feed intake, and body weight, were recorded then used to calculate feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment (42 days), four chickens from each pen were randomly selected for slaughter for carcass, bone morphology and sensory evaluation. Results: Results showed that onion extract supplementation did not affect (p>0.05) growth performances and meat sensory evaluation. However, there was a significantly increased (p<0.05) meat shear force in groups receiving onion extracts dietary treatments. Furthermore, onion extracts improved (p<0.05) bone morphology of broiler chickens in terms of weight, diameter, calcium, and phosphorous contents. Conclusion: In conclusion, onion extracts can be safely included in a commercial broiler diet as a growth promoter without causing adverse effects on growth performance traits and carcass quality in chickens. Onion extract supplementation improved tibia bone growth and strength in broiler chickens.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.207-214
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• 2011

The influence of supplementing diets with various levels of organic zinc (OZ) on the performance, meat quality attributes, and sensory properties of broiler chickens was investigated. A total of 3,200 1-d-old female broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 16 floor pens (replicates) with 200 birds per pen. A corn-wheat-soybean meal basal diet (control) was formulated and 20 ppm OZ (20 OZ), 40 ppm OZ (40 OZ), or 80 ppm OZ (80 OZ) was added to the basal diet to form four dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. Live performance of broiler chickens, meat quality, and sensory properties were evaluated. The results showed no significant difference among the treatments for live performance of broiler chickens. Significant increases (p<0.05) in thigh skin epidermis and dermis thickness were shown in the OZ supplementation groups; however, no effect of OZ on the thickness of back skin epidermis or dermis was found. Dietary OZ levels did not affect the pH of breast and thigh meat or the water holding capacity (WHC) of thigh meat, but the WHC of breast meat increased significantly (p<0.05) when birds were fed 40 OZ and 80 OZ. Results of a sensory analysis showed no differences among the dietary treatments. In conclusion, dietary OZ did not affect live performance or sensory properties of broiler chickens but did increase the WHC of breast meat and thickness of skin layers; thus, improving carcass quality in broiler chickens.