Male Layer-Type Chickens - an Alternative Source for High Quality Poultry Meat: a Review on the Carcass Composition, Sensory Characteristics and Nutritional Profile

ABSTRACT Male layer-type chickens are usually killed immediately after hatching. Despite the ethical debates and the sharp criticism against this practice, it is still widely applied. One of the possible alternatives for the culling of layer cockerels might be their use for meat production. Except f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBrazilian Journal of Poultry Science Vol. 24; no. 3
Main Authors Popova, T, Petkov, E, Ignatova, M, Vlahova-Vangelova, D, Balev, D, Dragoev, S, Kolev, N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Fundação APINCO de Ciência e Tecnologia Avícolas 01.01.2022
Subjects
carcass quality
Male layer-type chickens
meat characteristics
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Summary:ABSTRACT Male layer-type chickens are usually killed immediately after hatching. Despite the ethical debates and the sharp criticism against this practice, it is still widely applied. One of the possible alternatives for the culling of layer cockerels might be their use for meat production. Except for a small market niche, meat from male layer-type chickens is not currently popular among wider circles of consumers. However, although rather scarce, research on this type of bird shows that in comparison to fast or slow growing broilers, dual purpose, or indigenous breeds, the meat of male layers does not show any disadvantages in regards to sensory characteristics, chemical composition, and fatty acid profile, with its overall acceptability rating equally or even higher.
ISSN:1516-635X
1806-9061
DOI:10.1590/1806-9061-2021-1615