Selenium Source Effect on Broiler Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality and Drip Loss

Abstract

Downs, K.M., Hess, J.B. and Bilgili, S.F. 2000. Selenium source effect on broiler carcass characteristics, meat quality and drip loss. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 18: 61–72. Two 49 day broiler growout studies were conducted to evaluate the influence of supplemental dietary selenium sources on meat drip loss, yield and quality parameters. Birds were fed a control diet with either no supplemental selenium, sodium selenite or selenium-enriched yeast. A random sample of test birds were processed to evaluate carcass yield, deboning yield, whole carcass and breast fillet drip loss, water holding capacity, expressible moisture and cooking loss. Carcass and deboning yield and meat quality were not significantly affected by the type of selenium added to broiler diets. However, drip loss of breast fillets was greatest when an inorganic source of supplemental selenium was used. When compared with current supplementation strategies using an inorganic form, an orġanic source of selenium (selenium-yeast) added to broiler diets may reduce product drip loss of deboned meat.