Abstract:

In this study, carcass traits, textural characteristics, muscle fatty acids content and trace element content of Anji bamboo forest chickens and white-feathered broilers were determined. Compared with white-feathered broilers, Anji bamboo forest chickens had higher slaughtering rate, whole (half) clean rump rate, higher breast muscle rate and leg muscle rate and lower abdominal fat rate, and lower muscle hardness and chewiness and higher muscle cohesion, springiness and adhesiveness. The content of medium-chain fatty acids (MCAs) in the breast and leg muscles of Anji bamboo forest chickens were 0.52% and 0.40%, respectively, while the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were 37.11% and 32.63%, respectively, which were higher than those of white-feathered broilers. In addition, the iron content in the breast muscle and leg muscle of Anji bamboo forest chicken was 12.61 and 13.30 mg·kg^-1, respectively, while the selenium content was 199.22 and 195.46 μg·kg^-1, respectively, which were also higher than that of white-feathered broilers. Results indicated that the carcass performance, textural characteristics, fatty acids and trace element composition of Anji bamboo forest chickens were better than those of white-feathered broilers, providing theoretical and data support for the economic and nutritional value of Anji bamboo forest chickens.

Key words: Anji bamboo forest chickens, muscle, carcass performance, textural characteristics, fatty acids, trace elements