Effect of housing system on carcass composition, meat quality, digestive morphometry, and leg bone dimensions of Ross 308 parent broilers

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of 2 Ross 308 parent broiler housing systems (SLS—slat-litter system vs. LS—litter-based system) in terms of carcass composition, meat quality traits (chemical composition, texture, physicochemical properties), as well as biometric traits of the digestive system and leg bones. The weight of the eviscerated carcass and the proportion of carcass components were determined at the end of the reproductive period (60 wk of life) following slaughter. The lengths and diameters of the individual intestinal segments, the weight of selected internal organs, the acidity (pH24) and electrical conductivity (EC24), as well as the color (L*, a*, b*) of breast and thigh muscles were assessed. The basal chemical composition of the breast and thigh muscles was also determined, texture analysis of the pectoralis major muscle and measurements of the femur and tibia of parent broilers were also carried out. The housing system differentiated the birds in terms of percentage of breast muscle (SLS—27.4% vs. LS—26.0%) and intramuscular fat content in the breast muscle (SLS—1.1% vs. LS—0.7%), spleen weight pH of the breast and thigh muscles and EC of the thigh muscles (SLS—9.3 mS/cm vs. LS—7.0 mS/cm). Differences were also found between the study groups in the color of the breast and thigh muscles. The housing system affected the results of the texture analysis of the pectoralis major muscle. The birds differed significantly (P < 0.05) in terms of gumminess (SLS—11.1 N vs. LS—16.0 N), springiness, chewiness (SLS—17.6 N × cm vs. LS—23.4 N × cm) and cohesiveness parameters. The housing system did not affect the lengths and diameters of the individual intestinal segments, except for the length of the terminal intestine. There was no significant effect of the housing system on the tibia and femur dimensions analyzed. This study provided information about differences in certain carcass characteristics, meat quality, and the digestive system of Ross 308 parent broilers in relation to the maintenance system.