Differences in fatty acid composition of meat between naked neck and two commercial broiler chicken breeds

Abstract

Chicken meat from intensive broiler production have different quality compared with meat from native chicken breeds and chicken from a free range production system. The aim of the present study was to evaluate differences in fatty acids content of meat of Naked Neck chickens rared in free range system and two commercial broiler breeds (Cobb 308 and Hybro G+) reared in conventional production system. The trial involved 100 chickens per group. Fattening period lasted 42 days for conventional system and 84 days for free range system. Breast meat of Naked Neck chicken had statistically more 16:0 content compared with Cobb 308 (p?0.05), where in thigh meat the highest content of 16:0 was determined in Hybro G+ breed. Differences for fatty acids composition of breast meat between breeds were also established for 14:0, 17:0, 18:0, 16:1, 18:1, 18:2, 20:2, 22:1 and 22:5 fatty acid. The Naked Neck group showed the highest (p?0.05) percentage of SFA and the Cobb 308 showed the lowest in breast meat. Thigh SFA were also significantly different (p?0.05) between breeds, where Naked Neck chickens had the lowest and Hybro G+ the highest values. Breast MUFA were higher in Hybro G+ than in Naked Neck or Cobb 308 chickens, and thigh MUFA content had opposite trend and it was the lowest in Hybro G+ chicken. In conclusion, free ranged Naked Neck chickens have been shown to have significant different fatty acid composition compared with broiler chickens reared in conventional system.