Given an increasing trend in slaughter and chilling for the sale of chickens in China, it is important to determine the marketable age of chickens for chilled sales. This study determined the effects of two marketable ages on the body measurements, carcass traits, and meat quality of yellow-feathered chickens. A total of 360 healthy one-day-old male Xueshan chickens were raised in six pens (straw-covered floor, numbered 1 to 6) and treated in the same manner (free access to food and water) until day 100. Sixty chickens from pens numbered 1 to 3 and 4 to 6 were selected to determine the body measurements, carcass traits, and meat quality at two slaughter ages (90 and 100 days), respectively. One hundred-day-old chickens had a higher body slope, cockscomb, keel, shank lengths, and higher live and dressed weights (p < 0.05). The abdomen skin follicle density, a*(redness) and b*(yellowness) values were higher in 100-day-old chickens (p < 0.05), whereas the 90-day-old chickens were characterized by better spotted skin. For the breast muscle, pH, shear force, a*, moisture, and protein and intramuscular fat contents were lower; moreover, L*(lightness) and b* were higher in 90-day-old chickens. In leg muscles, the pH, shear force, L*, b* and collagen content were lower; furthermore, the a* and moisture contents were higher in 90-day-old chickens (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that two marketable ages both have pros and cons, but 90 days chickens perform better on carcass appearance, and producers can adjust the marketable age to meet needs of different consumers. This study provides a unique idea and theoretical reference for breeding and marketing yellow-feathered chickens.

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The liver is the main site of fat synthesis and plays an important role in the study of fat deposition in poultry. In this study, we investigated the developmental changes of duckling livers and isolated primary duck hepatocytes. Firstly, we observed morphological changes in duckling livers from the embryonic period to the first week after hatching. Liver weight increased with age. Hematoxylin-eosin and Oil Red O staining analyses showed that hepatic lipids increased gradually during the embryonic period and declined post-hatching. Liver samples were collected from 21-day-old duck embryos for hepatocyte isolation. The hepatocytes showed limited self-renewal and proliferative ability and were maintained in culture for up to 7 days. Typical parenchymal morphology, with a characteristic polygonal shape, appeared after two days of culture. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining analysis confirmed the characteristics of duck embryo hepatocytes. PCR analysis showed that these cells from duck embryos expressed the liver cell markers ALB and CD36. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence analysis also confirmed ALB and CK18 expression. Our findings provide a novel insight regarding in vitro cell culture and the characteristics of hepatocytes from avian species, which could enable further studies concerning specific research on duck lipid metabolism.

Lysozymes play vital roles in humoural immune response against bacterial invasion by its lytic activity. In the present study, a new C‐type lysozyme was identified and characterized from Chinese soft‐shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis. The full‐length cDNA of PslysC was of 923 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 148 amino acid residues. The multiple alignments and phylogenetic relationship analysis revealed the highly enzyme‐related conserved residues. The real‐time PCR analysis suggested that PslysC was constitutively expressed in a wide range of tissues with highest level in blood cells and liver. The expression of PslysC could be significantly up‐regulated under Aeromonas jandaei infection and ammonia exposure, while no significant changes were found under Poly I:C infection. The rPslysC protein was expressed in E. coli and purified by Ni‐NTA. The optimal pH and temperature for rPslysC protein lytic activities were determined at pH 7 and 30℃. rPslysC can inhibit the growth of eight kinds of Gram‐negative bacteria, and three kinds of Gram‐positive bacteria. The binding activity of rPslysC to different microbial polysaccharides and microorganism was analysed. The results showed that rPslysC could bind to selected bacteria, and exhibit a strong binding activity to lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan, but a weak binding activity to β‐glucan. This suggests that the binding activity might be the major mechanism of action to realize the antibacterial activity. The present study will provide helpful evidence to further understand the innate immunity of P. sinensis, and the interaction mechanisms of C‐type lysozymes with bacterial membranes.