Effects of Sex, Age, Preslaughter Factors, and Holding Conditions on the Quality Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Turkey Breast Muscles

One-hundred-sixty 16- and 20-week-old hen and tom turkeys were randomized into five groups and treated to certain preslaughter factors and holding conditions. Variables studied included the effect of feed withdrawal, excitation prior to slaughter, anesthetization, sex, and age on certain quality characteristics and chemical composition of turkey breast muscle. Anesthesia completely eliminated struggle at slaughter and caused significant increases in initial pH (P<.01), tissue glycogen (P<.01), and waterholding capacity (WHC) (P<.01), whereas shear force (kg) (P<.01), yield (%) (P<.05), and color (aL) (P<.01) values for the breast muscle were significantly decreased as compared with the free struggle (control) group. However, anesthesia had no effect on the chemical composition and other quality measurements. Feed withdrawal had a significant effect on final pH (P<.01), WHC (P<.01), live weight (P<.05), and moisture content (P<.05) when compared with the fed group. Excitation prior to anesthetization resulted in muscles with a significantly higher WHC (P<.05), yield (P<.05), and aL values (P<.05) but significantly lower live weight, shear force, and L values than the nonexcited group. As age of the bird increased, tissue glycogen (P<.05), thaw loss (P<.01), and shear force (P<.01) of the breast muscle significantly decreased, whereas live weight (P<.01), yield (P<.01), L values (P<.01), and fat content (P<.01) increased significantly with advancing age. Male turkeys were observed to have a significantly higher live weight (P<.01) and higher ash content (P<.01) of the breast muscle as compared to the female.