ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the meat quality characteristics of broilers that were brought to the slaughterhouse from different transport distances and received post-slaughter carcass electrical stimulation. For this purpose, broilers were transported to the slaughterhouse from different distances, from farms belonging to the same enterprise. Broilers coming from different distances were randomly divided into two subgroups after slaughter. Electrical stimulation was applied to one of the groups, on the pectoral muscle. After electrical stimulation, pH measurements of the carcasses were made in both groups in the first 15 minutes. The carcasses were then cut, and the breast and thigh meats were separated. Subsequently, these samples were kept at +4°C for 24 hours, and pH measurements, electrical conductivity, color parameters, cooking loss and texture profile analyses were made.
For the breast meat samples, it was determined that the difference in transport distance between the groups caused a difference in crude protein, crude fat, and crude ash values. It was detected that as the transport distance to the slaughterhouse increased, the protein and ash values decreased, while the fat value increased. pH15min was measured to be lower in breast meat samples taken from a closer distance to the farm. In thigh meat samples, the difference in transport distance was significant in crude fat and crude ash values. It was determined that the difference between the groups in the values obtained as a result of the electrical stimulation applied after slaughter were not significant, except for redness values of thigh meat.
Keywords:
Broiler; electrical stimulation; meat quality; meat texture; transport distance