Chemical and physical characteristics of chicken livers following adrenocorticotropic hormone-induced stress

Commercial chickens were implanted with a micro-osmotic pump which released 1 IU/kg BW/day of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and were sacrificed after 24 and 48h. The weight of liver increased from 3.36% for the untreated controls to 4.56 and 5.40% of ready-to-cook carcass weight for 24 and 48h after implantation, respectively. The fat content increased from 4.44% for the untreated group to 9.97 and 12.17% for 24 and 48h treated group, respectively. However, the pH and moisture content of liver decreased with the ACTH treatment and the livers were more pale. The ATCH treatment decreased the percentages of 14:0 and 18:2 fatty acids and increased that of 18:1 fatty acid in the liver.