IMPACT OF FEEDING BIGHEADED CARP FISH MEAL ON MEAT QUALITY AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES IN ORGANIC BROILER CHICKENS

SUMMARY Novel protein feeds are needed in ecological and organic poultry production to supply natural sources of amino acids, particularly methionine. Synthetic amino acids are increasingly banned in certified organic production. Carp is an invasive fish in the U.S and its harvest can help provide natural source of methionine, while reducing an undesirable population. In our previous study, we formulated a diet using extruded carp-based meal (CBM) to replace synthetic methionine in broiler diets and conducted a feeding trial to test its effect on broiler performance. For this study, birds were processed at the end of the feeding trial and evaluated for quality and sensory attributes of meat from birds fed with CBM diet. Controls were normal diet that contained methionine and the carp meal was used to replace methionine and a portion of soybean meal. Results suggest that birds fed with CBM diet did not differ from the Control in live weight, carcass weight, breast weight, ready-to-cook yield, wing yield, tenders and thigh yields (P>0.05). Breast meat was more light (L*) for birds from the CBM treatment compared to the Control and the pH was lower (P