The appearance of whole carcass and skin-on cut-up products is an important attribute that deeply affects the consumers choice. Skin pigmentation is affected mainly by genetics, concentration and dietary source of pigments, health status of the birds, and scalding/plucking conditions during slaughtering, although other factors might play an important role. Retailers request batches of broiler chicken carcasses characterized by uniform skin pigmentation to be sold as whole carcass or parts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of skin colour of yellow skinned broilers reared under intensive conditions. For the study, a total of 2,300 medium size broiler chickens (2,300-2,500 g of live weight) from 23 flocks (100 birds/flock; n=12 flocks of males and n=11 flocks of females) were randomly selected in a single slaughterhouse. The colour measurements were carried out on both breast and thigh pterylae as well as on shanks skin adopting the L* a* b* system and using a Minolta colorimeter CR 300. The overall range in measured yellowness (b*) was fairly large for all skin colour measurement positions. For breast it was observed a mean value of 22.77 (SD=5.12) with values ranging from 7.45 to 39.12. Average values of thigh and shank were 20.23 (SD=5.02; range 1.99-37.82) and 53.99 (SD=8.13; range 24.22-78.65), respectively. Comparing male and female birds, a higher skin yellowness in females in all body parts, was observed. Yellowness values of breast and thigh were significantly correlated (r=0.85; P<0.01) suggesting that the colour evaluation may be carried out only on one measurement position of the skin.
Survey of carcass pigmentation variability of yellow-skinned broiler chickens
MELUZZI, ADELE;SIRRI, FEDERICO;PETRACCI, MASSIMILIANO;BIANCHI, MAURIZIO;
2009
Abstract
The appearance of whole carcass and skin-on cut-up products is an important attribute that deeply affects the consumers choice. Skin pigmentation is affected mainly by genetics, concentration and dietary source of pigments, health status of the birds, and scalding/plucking conditions during slaughtering, although other factors might play an important role. Retailers request batches of broiler chicken carcasses characterized by uniform skin pigmentation to be sold as whole carcass or parts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of skin colour of yellow skinned broilers reared under intensive conditions. For the study, a total of 2,300 medium size broiler chickens (2,300-2,500 g of live weight) from 23 flocks (100 birds/flock; n=12 flocks of males and n=11 flocks of females) were randomly selected in a single slaughterhouse. The colour measurements were carried out on both breast and thigh pterylae as well as on shanks skin adopting the L* a* b* system and using a Minolta colorimeter CR 300. The overall range in measured yellowness (b*) was fairly large for all skin colour measurement positions. For breast it was observed a mean value of 22.77 (SD=5.12) with values ranging from 7.45 to 39.12. Average values of thigh and shank were 20.23 (SD=5.02; range 1.99-37.82) and 53.99 (SD=8.13; range 24.22-78.65), respectively. Comparing male and female birds, a higher skin yellowness in females in all body parts, was observed. Yellowness values of breast and thigh were significantly correlated (r=0.85; P<0.01) suggesting that the colour evaluation may be carried out only on one measurement position of the skin.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
