Comparison of the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, blood profiles, and meat quality of broilers, Korean native chickens and white semi broilers under an identical breeding environment

• Published in: Korean Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 351 - 359
• Main Authors: Oh, Han Jin, Kim, Kwon Jung, Bae, In Kyu, Yun, Won, Lee, Ji Hwan, Lee, Chang Hee, Kwak, Woo Gi, Liu, Shudong, An, Ji Seon, Yang, Seung Hun, Kim, Gok Mi, Choi, Yang il, Cho, Jin Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 충남대학교 농업과학연구소 2019; 농업과학연구소
• Subjects: 농학; meat quality; growth performance; white semi broiler; Korean native chicken; broiler
• ISSN: 2466-2402; 2466-2410
• DOI: 10.7744/kjoas.20190022

The purpose of this study was to compare the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, fecal microflora, blood profiles and meat quality of broilers, Korean native chickens and white semi broilers under identical feeding conditions. Sixty 1-d chicks of each type were randomly placed into 12 pens per cage (5 chicks per cage) and fed commercial diets for 28, 49, and 28 days, respectively. The broilers showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) growth performance from 0 to 4 weeks compared with the other types. Korean native chickens had a significantly higher (p < 0.05) digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen than that of the other species. The blood glucose was significantly higher in the Korean native chickens compared to the other species, and the blood cholesterol was significantly lower. The Lactobacillus content in Korean native chickens was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the other species, and the E. coli content in the broilers was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the Korean native chickens and white semi broilers. In terms of meat quality, the breast meat of the broilers had a high water content and pH level. The breast meat of the white semi broilers had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) shear force than that of the other species. In conclusion, there was an interspecific physiological difference due to the age and body weight of the chickens. The broilers had a higher growth performance and meat quality compared to the Korean native chickens and white semi broilers.