Our objective was to evaluate carcass traits and meat quality of quails from different strains and both sexes pertaining to three breeding-improvement programs. Quails from seven meat-type strains (UFV1, UFV2, UFV3, EV1, EV2, LF1 and LF2) and from one egg-laying (Japanese quail) strain (LAY) were slaughtered at 35 days of age. A completely randomised 8 (strain) × 2 (sex) factorial design was used for data analysis. Bodyweight, hot carcass weight and breast (musculus pectoralis major and m. pectoralis minor) and legs (thigh and drumstick) weights and their respective yields were determined. Ultimate pH, colour measurements, water-holding capacity, cooking loss and shear force were assessed. No difference in ultimate pH, shear force and hue was observed. The UFV3 strain had the greatest bodyweight at slaughter. The UFV3 strain had the greatest hot carcass weight in both sexes. The heaviest breasts were observed in both sexes of the UFV3 strain and in males of the UFV2 strain. The UFV3 quails had greater leg weight. The hot carcass yields of meat-type strains were greater than that of the LAY strain. The UFV3 and LAY females furnished a greater breast yield than did male quails. For males, the UFV1 strain had a greater yield of breast than that of LAY quails. The LAY quails presented the greatest yields of leg. The LAY quails had the least luminance, and the greatest water-holding capacity, cooking loss, red and yellow intensity, and chroma. In summary, meat obtained from meat-type strains had a greater water-holding capacity, lower cooking loss and greater luminance than that of the LAY strain. In addition, the meat-type strains grew appreciably faster, but the difference in yields of breast and leg meat between meat and layer strains was small. We conclude that meat-type strains, especially the UFV3, are more appropriate for enterprises focussed on meat production.

Our objectives were to assess quality parameters and chemical composition, and to evaluate the effects of sex, muscle and aging time on the quality of meats from Wagyu × Angus cross cattle reared under tropical conditions. Analyses were performed on the longissimus thoracis, semitendinosus and triceps brachii muscles obtained from chilled carcasses of a total of 30, 24-month-old, male (immunocastrated) and female animals (15 each sex). An effect of sex (P ≤ 0.05) was observed for subcutaneous fat thickness, marbling score, and ribeye area. The longissimus thoracis muscle from males was less (P < 0.0001) marbled than that from females, but males had greater subcutaneous fat thickness (P = 0.0001) and greater ribeye area (P = 0.0411) compared with females. No effect of sex (P ≥ 0.05) was observed for fat colour measures. An interaction effect of sex and muscle (P < 0.03) was detected for cooking loss, yellow intensity (b*), ash, and fat. Main effect of sex was not observed (P > 0.07) only for the ultimate pH and water-holding capacity. Greater shear force and moisture values were observed (P < 0.01) in meat from males than that from females, but a greater value of luminance (L*), red intensity (a*), chroma (C), hue (Ho), dry matter and protein was observed (P < 0.001) in meat from females than that from males. Main effect of muscle was not observed only for water-holding capacity (P = 0.13). Ultimate pH and shear force values were lesser (P < 0.001) in the longissimus thoracis muscle compared with other muscles. The triceps brachii muscle had the least (P ≤ 0.001) L* and Ho values among muscles, whereas the semitendinosus muscle had the greatest values of a* and C (P < 0.001). The semitendinosus muscle presented the greatest (P < 0.01) protein content compared with other muscles, although not differing in moisture and dry matter content from the triceps brachii muscle. An interaction effect of sex × aging time was observed for ultimate pH (P = 0.0110), meat colour parameters (except for Ho; P ≤ 0.01), and fat L* (P = 0.0025). Greater cooking loss, shear force, and fat a* values were observed (P < 0.01) in meat from males than that from females, but greater values of meat Ho, fat a* and Ho, dry matter, and protein were observed (P ≤ 0.03) in meat from females than that from males. Meat aging of longissimus thoracis reduced shear force. Based on these findings, we recommend that meat from Wagyu × Angus cross cattle should be aged during 7 days because, although differences between 7 and 14 days were observed in either aging times, meat subjected to this process is considered as very tender, based on shear force values. In addition, aging in a shorter period of time can reflect on costs by reducing particularly those related with energy, due to less refrigeration time.

No abstract