Poult. Sci.
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Poult Sci 2007. 86:1059-1064
© 2007 Poultry Science Association
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ENVIRONMENT, WELL-BEING, AND BEHAVIOR

Effect of Chronic Heat Exposure on Fat Deposition and Meat Quality in Two Genetic Types of Chicken1

Q. Lu, J. Wen2 and H. Zhang2

Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Beijing, 100094, China

2 Corresponding author: wenj{at}iascaas.net.cn or zhanghf6565{at}vip.sina.com

The effects of chronic heat stress on growth, proportion of carcass and fat deposition, and meat quality were investigated in 2 genetic types of chickens. One hundred and eight 5-wk-old male chickens from a commercially fast-growing strain (Arbor Acres, AA) and a locally slow-growing species (Beijing You chicken, BJY) were kept in the following conditions: constant optimal ambient temperature at 21°C and ad libitum feeding (21AL), constant high ambient temperature at 34°C and ad libitum feeding (34AL), and constant optimal ambient temperature 21°C and pair-fed to the 34AL chickens (21PF). The results showed that feed intakes were decreased by heat exposure in both type of chickens at 8 wk of age (P < 0.001). At 34°C, AA broilers exhibited greatly decreased weight gain (22.38 vs. 61.45 g/d for 21AL) and lower breast proportion compared with 21AL, while the relevant indices of BJY chickens were not affected in hot condition. Abdominal fat deposition of BJY chickens was enhanced by heat exposure (P < 0.05). Fat deposition of AA broilers was decreased in heat-exposed and pair-fed chickens. Abdominal and intermuscular fat deposition in 34AL birds, however, were enhanced compared with 21PF birds (P < 0.01). The L* values, drip loss, initial pH, and shear force of breast meat in BJY chickens were not affected by treatments. In AA birds, chronic heat stress increased L* values and drip loss compared with 21AL, but pH and shear force were not affected by treatments. The results from this study indicated that the impact of heat stress was breed dependent and that BJY chickens showed higher resistance to high ambient temperature, which could be related to their increased feed efficiency and deposition of abdominal fat under heat exposure.

Key Words: heat exposure • chicken • meat quality • fat deposition

1 Supported by grant 2004CB11750-6 and 2004CB11750-7 from the National Basic Research Program of China.






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