The effects of pre-slaughter withholding of feed and water on carcass yield and meat quality of broiler chickens

Ninety broiler chickens with an average weight of 1.4kg were allocated at random to one of ten treatments to assess the effects of withholding feed alone or feed together with water on carcass shrinkage and meat quality. The ten treatments were: slaughter from the feed lot (control duplicated), and sampling times of 12, 24, 36 and 48h. Live and carcass weights were taken to monitor shrinkage along with relevant meat quality parameters. Live and carcass weights, weights of head, liver, kidneys and heart decreased progressively as the length of fasting period increased. The progressive decreases in weights were found to be more pronounced in animals from which feed together with waters were withdrawn. After 24 hours of fasting, decrease in weights were found to be significant (P < 0.05). Ultimate pH and index of water holding capacity of the meats also decreased with the increase in length of fasting period with a concomitant decrease in cooking losses. The fat content of the carcass component decreased with increase in length of fasting. The implications of the effect of these observations on commercial broiler chickens meat production in the tropics are discussed.