Research Article
Małgorzata Jakubowska 
, Tadeusz Karamucki
Laboratory of Commodity Science of Food Products, Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, al. Piastów 45, 70-311 Szczecin, Poland
Abstract. The study was performed on 6-week-old Pharaoh quails. The birds were divided into 2 feeding groups: the control, fed with the standard starter and finisher fodder, and the experimental one, fed with the fodder mixtures containing 4% fragmented flax seeds. After the experiment was completed, the birds were slaughtered and a simplified slaughter analysis was performed. From each carcass the pectoral and leg muscles, liver, stomach, heart, and fat were obtained. The pectoral muscles were used to determine the basic chemical composition and for the sensory assessment of the colour, aroma, tenderness and juiciness of the cooked meat was performed. The study allowed to find that the quails from the experimental group were characterized by a significantly lower carcass fatness, and in the remaining parameters of slaughter analysis, no differences between the control and experimental group were found. The use of flax seeds in quails nutrition had no effect on the chemical composition of pectoral muscles, only a tendency to increase the protein, dry weight and ash content, and a decrease in the intramuscular fat content were observed. The sensory evaluation showed that in the meat of birds receiving flax seeds deviations in colour, juiciness and palatability may occur.
Keywords: carcass quality, sensory evaluation, chemical composition, quails
In animal farming, great attention is paid to the improvement of production effects by improving the concentration of energy in feed rations for livestock. The energy feed additives used in animal nutrition include oilseeds, oilcake, pomace and vegetable oils [Gubała 2004Gubała, A. (2004). Tłuszcz w żywieniu zwierząt przeżuwających [Fat in the nutrition of ruminants]. Hod. Bydła, 9, 14–18 [in Polish]. Google Scholar, Klebaniuk et al. 2012Klebaniuk, R., Kowalczuk-Vasilev, E., Czech, A. (2012). Len w żywieniu zwierząt, w: Zastosowanie lnu i inuliny w żywieniu i żywności [Flax in animal nutrition, in: The use of flax and inulin in nutrition and food production]. Monografie i streszczenia prac, red. A. Czech i R. Klebaniuk. Lublin-Susiec, 30.05.–1.06.2012 [b.w.], 35–52 [in Polish]. Google Scholar].
Flax is one of such oily plants that in both forms: fragmented and in seeds, is characterized by many health properties. Flax seeds contain proteins, sterols, organic acids, zinc, iron, magnesium, enzymes, and unsaturated fatty acids [Borowiec et al. 2005Borowiec, F., Zając, M., Micek, P. (2005). Wartość pokarmowa nasion lnu oleistego różnych odmian [Nutritional value of oilseeds of different varieties]. Rocz. Nauk. Zoot., 22(Supl.), 61–64 [in Polish]. Google Scholar].
By using flax seeds or flax oil, as well as other forms of fat in animal nutrition, we can positively affect their productivity, improve the nutritional value of meat or modify the fatty acid profile in the fat of animal products, improving their quality [Horoszewicz et al. 2010Horoszewicz, E., Pieniak-Lendzion, K., Niedziółka, R. (2010). Wyniki tuczu i wartość rzeźna koziołków żywionych paszą z dodatkiem nasion lnu [Fattening performance and slaughter value of goat kids fed flax seed-supplemented feed]. Żyw. Nauk. Technol. Jakość, 2(69), 40–45 [in Polish]. https://doi.org/10.15193/zntj/2010/69/040-045, Jakubowska et al. 2012Jakubowska, M., Gardzielewska, J., Szczerbińska, D., Karamucki, T., Tarasewicz, T., Ligocki, M. (2012). Effect of flax seed in feed on the quality of quail meat. Acta Sci. Pol., Zootechnica, 11(4), 41–52. Google Scholar, Konca et al. 2014Konca, Y., Yalcin, H., Karabacak, M., Kaliber, M., Durmuscelebi, F.Z. (2014). Effect of hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) on performance, egg traits and blood biochemical parameters and antioxidant activity in laying Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Brit. Poult. Sci., 55(6), 785–794. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071668.2014.978264, Kawęcka et al. 2016Kawęcka, A., Sosin-Bzducha, E., Sikora, J. (2016). Ocena jakości tusz i mięsa jagniąt rodzimej owcy wrzosówki żywionych paszą z dodatkiem nasion lnu [Eevaluation of carcass and meat quality in native wrzosówka lambs fed linseed-supplemented diet]. Żywność. Nauka. Technologia. Jakość, 1(104), 68–78 [in Polish]. https://doi.org/10.15193/zntj/2016/104/102, Makała 2019Makała, H. (2019). Wpływ żywienia kurcząt brojlerów paszą z dodatkiem nasion lnu i bez ich udziału na wybrane wyróżniki jakości mięsa i tłuszczu [Effect of feeding boiler chickens with fodder with and without flaxseeds added on selected quality characteristics of meat and fat]. Żywność. Nauka. Technologia. Jakość, 2(119), 55–69 [in Polish]. Google Scholar].
Table
1. Sensory evaluation of cooked meat in points |
|||||
Score |
Colour |
Aroma |
Tenderness |
Juiciness |
Flavour |
1 |
inappropriate, undesirable, too light or too dark |
extremely undesirable, strange |
extremelly tough, very hard to bite
|
very dry, chipped |
extremely undesirable, strange |
2 |
right, not desirable |
undesirable |
tender meat, hard to bite |
dry |
undesirable |
3 |
proper |
proper |
pretty brittle |
light juicy |
proper, quite desirable |
4 |
desirable |
desirable |
fragille |
juicy |
desirable |
5 |
highly desirable |
very desirable |
extreme tenderness and extremely brittle |
extremely juicy |
highly desirable |
The studies on the composition and quality of meat were carried out with the use of oilseeds or other forms of flax, on various species of poultry. It has been observed that the addition of an oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to the fodder instead of the saturated SFAs reduces the amount of fat tissue in broilers, especially in abdominal fat [Pinchasov and Nir 1992Pinchasov, Y., Nir, I. (1992). Effect of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid concentration on performance, fat deposition, and carcass fatty acid composition in broiler chicken. Poult. Sci., 71, 1504–1512. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0711504, Zollitsch et al. 1997Zollitsch, W., Knaus, W., Aichinger, F., Lettner, F. (1997). Effects of different dietary fat sources on performance and carcass characteristics of broilers. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 66(1-4), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(96)01126-1, Sanz et al. 1999Sanz, M., Flores, A., Perez, D.E., Ayala, P., Lopez-Bote, C.J. (1999). Higher lipid accumulation in broilers fed on saturated fats than in those fed on unsaturated fats. Brit. Poult. Sci., 40, 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071669987908, Sanz et al. 2000Sanz, M., Lopez-Bote, C.J., Menoyo, D., Bautista, J.M. (2000). Abdominal fat deposition and fatty acid synthesis are lower and beta-oxidation is higher in broiler chickens fed diets containing unsaturated rather than saturated fat. J. Nutr., 130, 3034–3037. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.12.3034, Crespo and Esteve-Garcia 2002Crespo, N., Esteve-Garcia, E. (2002). Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids decrease fat deposition in separable fat depots but not in the remainder carcass. Poult. Sci., 81, 512–518. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/81.4.512, Newman et al. 2002Newman, R.E., Bryden, W.L., Fleck, E., Ashes, J.R., Buttemer, W.A., Storlie, L.H., Downing, J.A. (2002). Dietary n-3 and n-6 fatty acids alter avian metabolism: metabolism and abdominal fat deposition. Brit. J. Nutr., 88, 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1079/BJN2002580, Villaverde et al. 2005Villaverde, C., Baucells, M.D., Cortinas, L., Hervera, M., Barroeta, A.C. (2005). Chemical composition and energy content of chickens in response to different levels of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids. Arch. Anim. Nutr., 59, 281–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450390500217082]. The content of fatty acids in the diet also affects the composition of adipose tissue and intramuscular fat in poultry. An enrichment of muscle tissue in fat containing the unsaturated alpha-linolenic acid (C18: 3 n–3) and linoleic acid (C18: 2 n-6) improves the dietary qualities of meat and plays a pro-health effect [Migdał et al. 2008Migdał, W., Pieszka, M., Barowicz ,T., Janik, A., Wojtysiak, D., Pustkowiak, H., Nowak, J., Kozioł, A. (2008). Pros and against for modification of fatty acids profile in animal tissues. Rocz. Instyt. Przem. Mięs. Tłuszcz., 66(1), 111–122. Google Scholar].
However, apart from its pro-health properties, the nutritional and sensory properties of meat are equally important, determining its acceptance by the consumer. Lopez-Ferrer et al. [2001]Lopez-Ferrer, S., Baucells, M.D., Barroeta, A.C., Galobart, J., Grashorn, M.A. (2001). n-3 Enrichment of Chicken Meat; Part 2 Use of Precursors of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Linseed Oil. Poult. Sci., 80, 753–761. https://doi.org/10.1093/ps/80.6.753, Jamroz [2004]Jamroz, D. (2004). Możliwość sterowania jakością produktów żywnościowych pochodzenia zwierzęcego poprzez żywienie zwierząt [The possibility of modelling the quality of animal origin food products through the animal nutrition]. Zesz. Nauk. AR Wroc. Zootech., 505, 99–97 [in Polish]. Google Scholar and Jakubowska et al. [2012]Jakubowska, M., Gardzielewska, J., Szczerbińska, D., Karamucki, T., Tarasewicz, T., Ligocki, M. (2012). Effect of flax seed in feed on the quality of quail meat. Acta Sci. Pol., Zootechnica, 11(4), 41–52. Google Scholar found that with an increased content of polyunsaturated acids in the fat of meat of slaughter animals, its sensory attractiveness, especially taste, smell and texture, may deteriorate.
Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine whether the addition of 4% fragmented flax to fodder will have an impact on features like sensory characteristics of cooked meat, its chemical composition and slaughter value of quails.
All the applied procedures were performed according to the guidelines for the care and use of research animals and were approved by the Local Ethics Committee on Animal Experimentation (West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, resolution number 30/2010, Szczecin, PL).
The study included 64 Japanese Pharaoh quail with equal proportion of sexes. The birds were reared up to the age of 6 weeks. The birds were fed with the starter fodder (EN. MET. 12 MJ, BO 24%) in the first rearing period, and then with the finisher fodder (EN.MET. 11,6 MJ, 20% B.O.) in the second period. In the first rearing period, the birds were divided into 2 groups: control and experimental (32 individuals each), where the experimental group received fodder with 4% addition of fragmented flax throughout the rearing period. Six-week-old Japanese Pharaoh quails were slaughtered (after 12h of ante-mortem fasting) by decapitation with a sharp knife. After bleeding, plucking, and evisceration, the carcasses were kept in a refrigerator at a temperature of about 4℃ for 24 hours. The cooled carcasses were weighed and dissected according to the recommendations of Ziołecki and Doruchowski [1989]Ziołecki, J., Doruchowski, W. (1989). Metoda oceny wartości rzeźnej drobiu [Method of carcass quality assessment in poultry]. Wyd. COBRD, Poznań [in Polish]. Google Scholar. From each carcass, pectoral and leg muscles, heart, liver and fat were collected and weighed with the laboratory WPS 600/C/1 scales (Radwag) to the nearest 0.01 g.
The assessment of chemical composition was based on percentage determination of basic chemical components levels: total water, total protein, fat, and ash:
The sensory evaluation concerned the pectoral muscles. It was performed by a five-person team tested in terms of sensory sensitivity in accordance with the Polish Standard PN-ISO-4121 [PN-ISO 1998PN-ISO (1998). Analiza sensoryczna; Metodologia; Ocena produktów żywnościowych przy użyciu metod skalowania [Sensory analysis; Methodology; Evaluation of food products with scaling methods]. PN-ISO 4121 [in Polish]. Google Scholar]. The meat was cooked to the internal temperature of 85℃ in accordance with the method given by Baryłko-Pikielna et al. [1964]Baryłko-Pikielna, N., Kossakowska, T., Baldwin, Z. (1964). Wybór optymalnej metody przygotowania mięsa wołowego i wieprzowego do oceny sensorycznej [Selection of the optimum method of beef and pork preparation for sensory evaluation]. Rocz. Inst. Przem. Mięsn., 1, 111–132 [in Polish]. Google Scholar, in twice the weight of water in relation to the weight of meat. The following parameters of meat were assessed: color, smell, flavor and tenderness. The evaluation was made on a five-point scale, where the highest score was 5 points and the lowest 1 point (Table 1).
The obtained results were statistically compiled with the Statistica 12.5 PL software. One-way ANOVA was used to calculate the influence of flax on selected factors of the slaughter value, chemical composition of the pectoral muscles and sensory evaluation of meat from the quail pectoral muscles. The results were assessed for differences using Duncan's test with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Normality of distribution was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test.
Table
2. Results
of slaughter analysis of quails |
||||
Traits – Cechy |
Groups – Grupy |
|||
control – kontrolna |
treatment – eksperymentalna |
|||
x̅ |
SD |
x̅ |
SD |
|
Body weight, g – Masa żywa, g |
180.36 |
12.36 |
183.27 |
18.70 |
Carcass weight, g – Masa tuszki, g |
115.20 |
9.23 |
114.00 |
8.57 |
Carcass dressing yield percentage, % – Wskaźnik wydajności rzeźnej, % |
63.98 |
2.19 |
63.14 |
7.50 |
Liver weight, g – Masa wątroby, g |
4.00 |
0.78 |
3.89 |
0.80 |
Heart weight, g – Masa serca, g |
1.76 |
1.45 |
1.72 |
0.19 |
Stomach weight, g – Masa żołądka, g |
4.96 |
0.85 |
5.00 |
0.92 |
Fatness, g – Otłuszczenie, g |
5.64* |
2.60 |
3.26* |
1.60 |
Breast muscle weight, g – Masa mięśni piersiowych, g |
38.22 |
4.83 |
38.85 |
4.80 |
Leg muscle weight, g – Masa mięśni udowych, g |
25.32 |
2.80 |
26.45 |
2.83 |
*Significance of differences at P ≤ 0.05. |
||||
Table 2 presents the results of quails slaughter value evaluation. Birds from the experimental group, where fragmented flax seeds were added to the fodder, were characterized by a higher body weight (183.27 g) and lower carcass weight (114.00 g), compared to the control group (180.36; 115.20 g, respectively). The differences were however not confirmed statistically at P ≤ 0.05. In our experiment we noted that the 4% addition of flax to the fodder did not significantly increase the slaughter efficiency index and the weight of the liver, heart and stomach, and the mean values for both groups were very similar (Table 2). In turn, a statistically significant decrease in fat content was found in quails from the experimental group. The amount of carcass fat for the experimental group was 3.26 g and for the control group 5.64 g. There was a trend towards the greater pectoral muscle mass in the experimental group. The weight of the pectoral muscles for the control group was 38.22 g, and for the experimental group 38.85 g. However, the quails from the experimental group were characterized by a greater mass of the femoral muscles (26.45 g) compared to the control group (25.32 g), but this was not a statistically significant difference.
Table 3 shows the results of analysis of pectoral muscle chemical composition. The average amount of dry matter in the quail meat ranged from 25.86% to 26.07%. The content of intramuscular fat in the examined samples ranged from 1.3% to 1.70%, and the mean total protein content from 21.84% to 21.99%. The average ash values ranged from 1.36% to 1.43%. In the experimental group of birds we found a trend to a higher protein, ash and dry weight content in the pectoral muscles. There was a slight decrease in the fat content in the muscles of birds fed with 4% flax, compared to the control group. The addition of flax to the fodder played no significant (P ≤ 0.05) role for the chemical composition of the quail pectoral muscles.
Table
3. The
chemical composition of breast muscles in quails, % |
||||
Traits – Cechy |
Groups – Grupy |
|||
control – kontrolna |
treatment – eksperymentalna |
|||
x̅ |
SD |
x̅ |
SD |
|
Dry matter – Sucha masa |
25.86 |
0.20 |
26.07 |
0.63 |
Ash – Popiół |
1.36 |
0.22 |
1.43 |
0.08 |
Total protein – Białko ogólne |
21.84 |
0.82 |
21.99 |
0.33 |
Intramuscular fat – Tłuszcz śródmięśniowy |
1.70 |
0.60 |
1.36 |
0.40 |
Dry matter – Sucha masa |
25.86 |
0.20 |
26.07 |
0.63 |
Table
4. The
results of sensory evaluation of cooked breast musles (in points) |
||||
Traits – Cechy |
Groups – Grupy |
|||
control – kontrolna |
treatment – eksperymentalna |
|||
x̅ |
SD |
x̅ |
SD |
|
Colour – Barwa |
3.46 |
0.80 |
3.00 |
0.00 |
Aroma – Zapach |
4.88 |
0.21 |
5.00 |
0.00 |
Tenderness – Kruchość |
4.89 |
0.21 |
4.82 |
0.30 |
Juiciness – Soczystość |
3.07 |
0.00 |
2.82 |
0.27 |
Palatalibity – Smakowitość |
4.91 |
0.26 |
4.52 |
0.80 |
In Table 4 we present the mean values for the sensory analysis of cooked quail pectoral muscles. The deterioration of colour of the cooked meat was observed in the experimental group of quails (3.00 points) compared to the control group (3.46 points). The addition of flax to the fodder improved however the aroma of cooked meat, and the obtained scores were 4.88 points for the control group, and 5.00 points for the experimental group. The assessed meat was characterized by the correct tenderness. Boiled pectoral muscles in both groups obtained high scores: 4.89 points (control group) and 4.82 points (experimental group). A reduction in juiciness and palatability of meat was observed in the group of quails with 4% addition of flax seeds (Table 4). Samples from the control group of quails were characterized by better juiciness and flavor (respectively: 3.07 points; 4.91; points) compared to the experimental group of quails (respectively: 2.82 points; 4.60 points). No statistical relationship was found in the tested sensory characteristics of cooked quail meat at P ≤ 0.05.
The use of feed mixtures with a high concentration of energy in the nutrition of poultry ensures a fast growth rate, health, low fat content and good carcass and meat quality [Osek et al. 2008Osek, M., Milczarek, A., Janocha, A. (2008). Wpływ różnych proporcji oleju sojowego i lnianego w mieszankach dla kurcząt brojlerów na ich wzrost, wartość tuszki i cechy jakościowe mięsa [An impact of different shares of soybean and linseed oil in mixtures for broiler chicken on their growth, carcass value and meat quality characteristics]. Rośl. Ol. – Oils. Crops, 29, 255–266 [in Polish]. Google Scholar, Makała 2019Makała, H. (2019). Wpływ żywienia kurcząt brojlerów paszą z dodatkiem nasion lnu i bez ich udziału na wybrane wyróżniki jakości mięsa i tłuszczu [Effect of feeding boiler chickens with fodder with and without flaxseeds added on selected quality characteristics of meat and fat]. Żywność. Nauka. Technologia. Jakość, 2(119), 55–69 [in Polish]. Google Scholar]. In this experiment, the slaughter analysis showed no effect of 4% addition of flax seeds to the fodder on the of slaughter value parameters in quails. The only effect of the addition was the reduction in fatness of carcasses. In the remaining features of the slaughter value, a tendency was observed towards a higher body weight and a greater share of pectoral and femoral muscles in the carcass. The results obtained in this work are confirmed by the results of the nutritional research of Grześkowiak et al. [2005]Grześkowiak, E., Borzuta, K., Borys, A., Grześkiewicz, A., Strzelecki, J. (2005). Skład kwasów tłuszczowycyh mięśni longissimus dorsi i biceps femoris świń puł x pbz oraz naïma x p-76 z gospodarstw chłopskich [The composition of fatty acids in longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris muscles of pigs puł x landrace and naïma x p-76 from small farms]. Żywn. Nauk. Technol. Jakość, 3(44) Supl., 48–52 [in Polish]. Google Scholar. The use of 5% and 7.5% addition of linseed oil for pig fodder did not affect most of the parameters of pig carcasses slaughter value, only a reduction in subcutaneous fat content was noted. Also, Pietras et al. [2000]Pietras, M., Barowicz, T., Gąsior, R. (2000). The effect of vegetable FAT supplements on carcass quality and fatty acid profile of meat in broiler chickens. Rocz. Nauk. Zoot., 27(4), 209–219. Google Scholar did not observe any effects on the production effectiveness of rape seeds, flax seeds, rape seed oil and flax oil used in the diet of broiler chickens. In other studies, Makała [2019]Makała, H. (2019). Wpływ żywienia kurcząt brojlerów paszą z dodatkiem nasion lnu i bez ich udziału na wybrane wyróżniki jakości mięsa i tłuszczu [Effect of feeding boiler chickens with fodder with and without flaxseeds added on selected quality characteristics of meat and fat]. Żywność. Nauka. Technologia. Jakość, 2(119), 55–69 [in Polish]. Google Scholar found no relationship between the increase in body weight gain and the weight of pectoral and femoral muscles in carcass and the use of 7% addition of crushed flax seeds in the diet of broiler chickens. Jakubowska et al. [2012]Jakubowska, M., Gardzielewska, J., Szczerbińska, D., Karamucki, T., Tarasewicz, T., Ligocki, M. (2012). Effect of flax seed in feed on the quality of quail meat. Acta Sci. Pol., Zootechnica, 11(4), 41–52. Google Scholar showed that the use of flax seeds in nutrition of quails did not increase the share of pectoral and femoral muscles in carcasses. The lack of visible production effects after the use of 4% flax seed additive in this experiment may be the result of an inappropriate balance of the food ration. The content of energy in the diet is the main factor regulating feed intake in poultry. According to Blanch et al. [1996]Blanch, A., Barroeta, A.C., Baucells, M.D., Serrano, X., Puchal, F. (1996). Utilization of different fats and oils by adult chickens as a source of energy, lipid and fatty acids. Anim. Feed Sci. Tech., 61, 335–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/0377-8401(95)00931-0 fats and oils are the most concentrated sources of energy, but their quantity and quality affects the availability of metabolic energy of the entire feed.
The addition of flax seeds to the feed in quail nutrition did not affect the chemical composition of the pectoral muscles, which is consistent with the research by Jakubowska et al. [2012]Jakubowska, M., Gardzielewska, J., Szczerbińska, D., Karamucki, T., Tarasewicz, T., Ligocki, M. (2012). Effect of flax seed in feed on the quality of quail meat. Acta Sci. Pol., Zootechnica, 11(4), 41–52. Google Scholar. Malczyk [2001]Malczyk, E. (2001). Ocena cech jakościowych tuszek i mięsa kurcząt brojlerów żywionych paszą wzbogaconą w oleje roślinne i alfa-tokoferol [Assessment of quality characteristics of carcasses and meat of broiler chickens fed with fodder enriched with vegetable oils and alpha-tocopherol]. Zesz. Nauk. AR, Wroc. Technol. Żywn., 407, 23–41 [in Polish]. Google Scholar, using the linseed oil and flax seeds in the diet of broiler chickens, also did not notice effect of these additives on the chemical composition of meat. Also Baranowski et al. [2007]Baranowski, A., Gabryszuk, M., Jóźwik, A., Bernatowicz, E., Chyliński, W. (2007). Fattening performance, slaughter indicators and meat chemical composition in lambs fed the diet supplemented with linseed and mineral bioplex. Anim. Sci. Pap. Rep., 25(1), 35–44. Google Scholar, in a feeding experiment performed in rams, did not show any effect of flax addition on the chemical composition of the longissimus muscle. On the other hand, a beneficial effect of the flax seeds on the chemical composition of meat was proved in an experiment conducted on goat lings by Pieniak-Lendzion et al. [2006]Pieniak-Lendzion, K., Niedziółka, R., Borkowska, T., Horoszkiewicz, E. (2006). Effect of line seeds supplement In mixtures on chemical composition and fatty acids profile in muscular tissue of male kids. Arch. Tierz., Dummerstorf, 49, (Special Issue), 244–248. Google Scholar. In the experiment, a 10% addition of flax seeds significantly influenced the dry matter content and the fat content in carcasses. Additionally, the content of fatty acids in meat fat has changed. In the studies by Borys and Borys [2005]Borys, B., Borys, A. (2005). Effect of the form of rapeseed and linseed in lamb diets on some health quality parameters of meat. Ann. Anim. Sci., 1(5), 159–169. Google Scholar, the use of fragmented oilseeds in the lambs diet increased the content of intramuscular fat.
In this experiment, we noticed a tendency to increase the content of protein, ash and dry weight in the pectoral muscles of quail, as a result of the 4% flax seeds addition to the fodder (Table 3). There was also a slight decrease in fat content in the pectoral muscles of experimental birds compared to the control group. It should be emphasized that a decrease in carcass fat and in amount of intramuscular fat of quail pectoral muscles is good news for poultry farmers, because consumers mainly look for dietary meat, which includes lean, and not fatty products.
As it is known, apart from the health-promoting properties, flax seeds may show also the adverse effects due to the content of cyanogenic glycosides, trypsin and inhibitors of phytic acid. The introduction of flax seeds as a fodder additive may reduce the physicochemical and sensory properties of meat, which in turn may affect its acceptance by the consumer [Morrissey et al. 1998Morrissey, P.A., Sheehy, P.J.A., Galvin, K., Kerryh, J.P., Buckleyh, D.J. (1998). Lipid stability in meat and meat products. Meat Sci., 49(1), S73–S96. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0309-1740(98)90039-0]. In this study, no significant effect on the sensory characteristics of quail meat fed with flax seeds addition was shown. Instead, we noted that the cooked meat was characterized by excellent tenderness and the desired aroma, and the obtained scores reached the maximum values (Table 4). On the other hand, we observed a negative effect of the flax seeds used in the diet on such features of cooked meat as colour, juiciness and palatability. Our observations are confirmed in the report of Jakubowska et al. [Jakubowska et al. 2012Jakubowska, M., Gardzielewska, J., Szczerbińska, D., Karamucki, T., Tarasewicz, T., Ligocki, M. (2012). Effect of flax seed in feed on the quality of quail meat. Acta Sci. Pol., Zootechnica, 11(4), 41–52. Google Scholar, Jakubowska et al. 2013Jakubowska, M., Gardzielewska, J., Trasewicz, Z., Szczerbińska, D., Karamucki, T., Rybak, K., Poławska, E., Garczewska, J. (2013). The effect of amaranth seed added to the standard diet upon selected meat quality traits in the quail. Anim. Sci. Pap. Rep., 31(4), 355–362. Google Scholar] and Gardzielewska et al. [2012]Gardzielewska, J., Szczerbińska, D., Jakubowska, M., Karamucki, T., Ligocki, M. (2012). Meat quality of quail fed with feedstuff containing Nigella sativa seeds. Acta Sci. Pol., Zootechnica, 11(4), 31–40. Google Scholar, where the taste and juiciness of cooked meat deteriorated after the use of flax seeds, amaranth and black cumin in the quail diet.
When using flax seeds in the diet of birds, attention should be paid to the dose, as in our research the addition of 4% of flax seeds worsened the color and juiciness of cooked meat and reduced its taste.
This study was financed by the funds of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland (statutory research fund of the Szczecin West Pomeranian University of Technology).
Received: 15 Dec 2020
Accepted: 31 Dec 2020
Published online: 6 Mar 2021
Accesses: 499
Jakubowska, M., Karamucki, T., (2020). The effect of flax seeds addition in nutrition of quails on the quality of carcass and meat. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 19(4), 63–70. DOI: 10.21005/asp.2020.19.4.08.