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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385461
Research Project: Multi-hurdle Approaches for Controlling Foodborne Pathogens in Poultry

Location: Poultry Production and Product Safety Research

Title: Impact of feeding bigheaded carp fish meal on meat quality and sensory attributes in organic broiler chickens

Author
item UPADHYAYA, INDU - University Of Arkansas
item ARSI, KOMALA - University Of Arkansas
item FANATICO, ANNE - Appalachian State University
item WAGLE, BASANTA - University Of Arkansas
item SHRESTHA, SANDIP - University Of Arkansas
item UPADHYAY, ABHINAV - University Of Connecticut
item COON, CRAIG - University Of Arkansas
item OWENS, CASEY - University Of Arkansas
item MALLMAN, BARBARA - University Of Arkansas
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie

Submitted to: Journal of Applied Poultry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/17/2021
Publication Date: 3/1/2022
Citation: Upadhyaya, I., Arsi, K., Fanatico, A., Wagle, B.R., Shrestha, S., Upadhyay, A., Coon, C.N., Owens, C.M., Mallman, B., Donoghue, A.M. 2022. Impact of feeding bigheaded carp fish meal on meat quality and sensory attributes in organic broiler chickens. Journal of Applied Poultry Research. 31(1). Article 100224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2021.100224.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japr.2021.100224

Interpretive Summary: The demand for organic chicken meat continues to grow and the availability of high-quality protein feeds that are certified organic are limited. Synthetic inputs are generally banned in organic production, because ecological production is based on nutrient cycling instead of external inputs. Currently, under the USDA National Organic Program, a limited amount of synthetic methionine is temporarily allowed in organic poultry production, which is expected to be phased-out in the future. Fishmeal is permitted as a feedstuff in organic livestock and poultry production and is a good source of natural methionine. However, there is concern about over fishing and the impact on wild fish populations. Invasive fish, such as bigheaded carp may offer an alternative. Our objectives were to determine the impact of feeding carp-based meal (CBM) instead of synthetic methionine on chicken meat quality and sensory attributes. Results suggest that birds fed with CBM diet did not differ from the Control in live weight, carcass weight, breast weight, ready-to-cook yield, wing yield, tenders and thigh yields. Breast meat was more light (L*) for birds from the CBM treatment compared to the Control. Thigh meat from birds fed CBM diets has higher protein and less fat compared to the Control. In the consumer analysis, overall impression, flavor, and mouthfeel were lower for the CBM breast meat than the Control and scored lower in terms of tenderness and juiciness. Interestingly, thigh meat from CBM had more omega-3 fatty acids compared to the Control. Overall, the results indicate that carp-based meal hold potential as a novel protein to replace synthetic methionine in organic broiler diets.

Technical Abstract: Novel protein feeds are needed in ecological and organic poultry production to supply natural sources of amino acids, particularly methionine. Synthetic amino acids are increasingly banned in certified organic production. Carp is an invasive fish in the U.S and its harvest can help provide natural source of methionine, while reducing an undesirable population. In our previous study, we formulated a diet using extruded carp-based meal (CBM) to replace synthetic methionine in broiler diets and conducted a feeding trial to test its effect on broiler performance. For this study, birds were processed at the end of the feeding trial and evaluated for quality and sensory attributes of meat from birds fed with CBM diet. Results suggest that birds fed with CBM diet did not differ from the Control in live weight, carcass weight, breast weight, ready-to-cook yield, wing yield, tenders and thigh yields (P>0.05). Breast meat was more light (L*) for birds from the CBM treatment compared to the Control and the pH was lower (P<0.05). For the thigh meat, birds fed CBM diets resulted in higher protein and less fat compared to the Control (P<0.05). In the consumer analysis, overall impression, flavor, and mouthfeel were lower for the CBM breast meat than the Control and scored lower in terms of tenderness and juiciness (P<0.05). Interestingly, thigh meat from CBM had more omega-3 fatty acids, which has a human health benefit. The results indicate that carp-based meal hold potential as a novel protein to replace synthetic methionine in organic broiler diets.