Breast and thigh meat quality of Muscovy ducks fattened under different housing systems

This study evaluated the effects of two housing systems – conventional deep litter (Control) and deep litter with access to a swimming pond (Swimming) – and sex on meat quality traits and muscle fibre characteristics in Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata). A total of 1,152 ducks were reared under controlled conditions and assigned to four experimental groups based on housing system and sex. Physical and technological traits of breast (pectoralis major, pectoralis minor) and thigh (biceps femoris, sartorius) muscles were analysed, along with histomorphological properties of muscle fibres (types I, IIA, and IIB, depending on muscle). Ducks housed in the Swimming system exhibited significantly larger types IIA and IIB muscle fibres (p < 0.0001), without significant changes in fibre number per mm2, indicating fibre hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia. In the pectoralis major muscle, the Swimming group showed higher pH at 24 h post-mortem (p = 0.0116) and greater fluid losses (p < 0.05). Males had significantly larger muscle fibres (p < 0.0001), higher Warner–Bratzler shear force values (p < 0.0001), and lower cooking and thawing losses (p < 0.0001), while females exhibited higher fibre density and total fluid loss of the meat. These results suggest that moderate swimming activity induces hypertrophic growth in oxido-glycolytic muscle fibres, impacting muscle structure and meat quality. Moreover, the consistent sex-related differences highlight the biological relevance of sex in muscle development and meat properties. Overall, the findings provide valuable insights into optimising meat quality and sustainability in duck production systems through housing enrichment and sex-specific management strategies.