Slaughter Performance, Meat Quality and Organoleptic Indices of Crossbred Progenies from Meat-Type Chicken and Nigerian Indigenous Chicken Breeds

Background and Objective: The number of characteristics, most notably the sensory, physical and chemical characteristics of chicken carcasses and meat all of which are influenced by the genetic makeup of the birds can be used to evaluate the quality of poultry products. The quality of poultry products can be assessed by several attributes, primarily the sensory, physical and chemical attributes of chicken carcasses and meat, which vary with genetic composition of chickens. The aim is to investigate and compare the meat slaughtered performance meat quality and sensory assessments of the crossbred chickens from the broiler chickens and Nigerian Indigenous chickens with the best to present to consumers. Materials and Methods: The crossbred genetic component chickens used were produced from crosses between Arbor acre broiler chickens (male-AA) and Nigerian Indigenous chickens (female-FF frizzle feather, FE Fulani ecotype, NN-naked neck and NF-normal feather) and slaughter performance, meat quality and consumer sensory assessment were evaluated and data obtained were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05 significant level. Results: Data obtained on slaughter performance was better in genetic components of AANN of values 2950.80, 2935.90, 2612.60, 250.09, 480.02, 465.81, 300.09, 809.34 and 198.00 g for live weight, slaughtered weight, dressed weight, wing weight, thigh weight, drumstick weight, back weight and breast weight, respectively. The meat quality favored AANN chickens for lowest pH and lightness toward white for breast and thigh meat samples while sensory indices were much enhanced in terms of colour (5.63), flavor (7.85), juiciness (6.25) and acceptability (7.90) in the genetic components of AANN than other genetic stocks involved. Conclusion: Variations exist for slaughter performance, meat quality and sensory assessment due to genetic constitution of the chickens involved and combining effect of AANN proved much better in terms of parameters measured than AAFF, AAFE and AANF counterparts.