Pre-slaughter fasting times for broiler chickens

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different pre-slaughter fasting times on live weight and meat quality of broiler chickens slaughtered at 35 and 42 days of age. Treatments consisted of four, eight, 12, and 16 hours of total fasting before slaughter. Eight birds of each sex were slaughtered at each time of fasting. Regression analysis indicated that the longer the fasting time, the greater the weight reduction in both males and females (35/42 days). However, analysis of variance highlighted no weight reduction (P>0.05) for four, eight, and 12 hours of fasting in males slaughtered at 35 and 42 days of age and in females at 35 days. However, females slaughtered at 42 days of age showed no differences (P>0.05) for four and eight hours of fasting. After 16 hours of fasting, both males and females slaughtered at 35 and 42 days of age showed higher weight reductions (P<0.05) than after the other fasting times. No live weight reductions (P>0.05) were observed for male and female birds of 35 and 42 days of age, respectively. Regarding meat quality, no changes (P>0.05) were found for CL and WHC in males and females at 35 and 42 days of age, respectively.