Pasture Intake Improves the Performance and Meat Sensory Attributes of Free-Range Broilers

Abstract

Free-range chickens are assumed to consume low to moderate levels of pasture, although the effects of forage intake in broiler performance and poultry meat quality remain to be established. In addition, despite cellulases and hemicellulases being widely used as feed supplements to improve the nutritive value of cereal-based diets for fast-growing broilers, the potential interest of these biocatalysts in the production of free-range chicken is yet to be established. In this study, broilers of the RedBro Cou Nu x RedBro M genotype were fed a cereal-based diet in portable floorless pens located either on a rainfed subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) pasture or on an irrigated white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture. Control birds were maintained at the same site in identical pens but with no access to pastures. The importance of pasture intake and enzyme supplementation in the performance and meat sensory properties of the free-range chicken from d 28 to 56 was investigated. The results revealed that although cellulase and hemicellulase supplementation had no impact on broiler performance (P > 0.05), birds foraging on legume-based pastures reached significantly greater final BW. The data suggest that the improvement in broiler performance results from increased intake of the cereal-based feed rather than from an improvement in the efficiency of nutrient utilization per se. Interestingly, although the intake of the subterranean clover pasture had no impact on the tenderness, juiciness, and flavor of broiler meat, members of a 30-person consumer panel classified the meat from grazing broilers with greater scores for overall appreciation. Together, the results suggest that pasture intake promotes bird performance while contributing to the production of broiler meat with preferred sensory attributes.

The effects of access to pasture on growth performance, behavioural patterns, some blood parameters and carcass yield of a slow-growing broiler genotype

“…Pasture intake has an exacerbate effect on performance parameters, especially the feed conversion rate. Because pasture has a high fibre content, it has a restricting effect on utilization of other nutrients (Ponte et al 2008a). Similar results with a lower live weight with worse feed conversion rate were also observed in this study.…”

“…Because pasture has a high fibre content and may be a factor for restricting utilization of other nutrients. As a result, it causes a reduction in feed efficiency and growth rate (Ponte et al 2008a). …”

Influence of dietary replacement of sunflower oil with milk thistle (Silybum marianum) oil on chicken meat quality and antioxidant status of liver

“…Broiler meat colour depends on the genotype (Fletcher 1995), age (Fanatico et al 2005), animal technology conditions, and feeding regime (Ponte et al 2008). Husak et al (2008) stated that the colour of breast muscles of Arbor Acres broilers was: CIE L* value 62.57, CIE a* value 11.87, and CIE b* value 11.37.…”

Effects of strain and sex on the behaviour of free-range slow-growing chickens raised in a hot environment

“…Free-range chickens have limited access to feed additives and artificial ingredients and are grown in an environmentally friendly manner (ERS 2002). Free-range or organic systems allow birds access to an outside area, promoting foraging, feed selection and activity, thus theoretically improving their welfare (Ponte et al 2008). These outdoor production systems could decrease stress and allow the selection of strains that may increase comfort and bird welfare (Wang et al 2009), particularly in the wake of production conditions that are only likely to worsen with predicted trends in climate change.…”