Effect of different levels of high-protein sunflower meal in compound feeds on broiler's carcass characteristics and meat quality.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of various dietary levels of high-protein sunflower meal (HiSFM) in compound feed for broiler chickens on their carcass characteristics and meat quality. The experiment was conducted with four groups (one control; three experimental), each with 6 128 unsexed day-old Cobb 500 broiler chickens. In the diet of experimental groups, soybean meal (SBM) was replaced with three different levels of HiSFM and in the diet of 3rd experimental group, it replaced entirely the SBM. The chickens were slaughtered at 42 days of age. As carcass characteristics were concerned, no significant differences among the four groups were established, except for "grill" weight which was the highest in control group (p = 0.05). The substitution of SBM with HiSFM had a negative effect on meat protein content, which was higher in control group than in experimental ones (p = 0.001). Among meat technological properties, value of pH was lower while water holding capacity (WHC) - better in control group. The consumer panel gave the highest organoleptic score to the second experimental group, whose diet was characterized with a medium level of SBM replacement with HiSFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]