Effects of probiotics and sex on physicochemical, sensory and microstructural characteristics of broiler chicken meat

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of probiotic preparations Pro-Biotyk Em-15 and EMFarma (TM) and sex on proximate chemical composition, physicochemical properties of breast and leg muscles, sensory properties (including texture) and microstructural characteristics of pectoralis major muscle in Ross 308 broiler chickens. The study used 48 carcases - 12 from males and 12 from females fed no probiotics, and 12 from males and 12 from females receiving the EM probiotics. At 42 days, the chickens receiving EM preparations had significantly higher WB-shear force of pectoralis major muscle, whereas the leg muscles contained significantly less water and fat and had higher pH(24) value. Regardless of the treatment, males exhibited significantly higher springiness, chewiness, as well as significantly lower yellowness (b*), fibre perimeter, horizontal (H) fibre diameter and fibre cross section area of pectoralis major muscle when compared to females. In turn, male leg muscles had significantly higher fat content compared to female leg muscles. The genotype x sex interaction was significant for the content of water, protein and fat, and for electric conductivity (EC24) of leg muscles.