Effect of extruded flaxseed enriched diet on physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of broiler meat

The aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of the addition of extruded flaxseed to chicken feed on physico-chemical and sensory characteristics of breast and leg-thigh meat. The basic chemical composition, pH value, instrumental colour and sensory characteristics of white (breast) and dark meat (leg-thigh) were examined by feeding two groups (both comprising males and females) of 500 Ross 308 hybrid line chickens by standard feed (control group) and with the addition of 6% of extruded flaxseed mixture (experimental group). Instrumental characteristics of colour were changed, especially in white meat. Both breast muscles of male broilers were significantly lighter, but a* values were significantly lower in m. pectoralis profundus and b* values higher in m. pectoralis superficialis of both genders. In dark meat, a* values were significantly lower in the meat of males, while b* values were higher in the meat of females. The addition of extruded flaxseed to chicken feed did not led to significant changes in the sensory characteristics of meat.