Effects of Nutritional Restriction during Laying Period of Fat and Lean Line Broiler Breeder Hens on Meat Quality Traits of Offspring

Simple Summary The meat quality of livestock products is widely appreciated. Maternal nutrition can affect the deposition of nutrients in eggs, and then change the apparent metabolism, development process, and performance of offspring. Our research indicated that meat quality traits are also affected by maternal nutritional level and are related to the nutritional requirements of different genotypes. Some of the effects disappeared at the end of the growth stage. These situations remind poultry producers to consider the impact of feed restrictions on the quality of meat for future generations. The offspring meat quality of hens undergoing a 25% dietary restriction treatment during the laying period were evaluated in fat and lean line breeder. A total of 768 female birds (384/line) were randomly assigned to four groups (12 replicates/group, 16 birds/replicates). Maternal feed restriction (MFR) and normal started at 27 weeks of age. Offspring broilers were fed ad libitum. The offspring meat quality traits and muscle fiber morphology in different periods were measured. At birth, significant interactions were found on breast muscle fiber morphology (p < 0.05). At 28 days, MFR decreased breast water content and increased thigh crude fat content, and significant interactions were observed on breast crude fat and protein contents (p < 0.05). At 56 days, MFR affected morphology of peroneus longus muscle tissue, and significant interactions were found on thigh redness at 48 h and amino acid contents in breast and thigh muscle (p < 0.05). Overall, MRF may lead to offspring birth sarcopenia. Such offspring grow more easily to deposit fat in a nutritious environment, but they will self-regulate adverse symptoms during growth and development. The two lines respond differently to maternal nutritional disturbance due to different nutritional requirements and metabolic patterns.

Automated summary

Maternal nutrition affects offspring meat quality, with feed restriction leading to reduced lean meat and increased fat content in the offspring. The impact of maternal nutritional disturbance varies between different genetic lines.