Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality
This study investigated the feasibility of integrating feed-grade hempseed (FG-HS), an emerging by-product of the oil industry, into organic poultry production, focusing on its impact on growth performance, slaughter yield, and quality traits of meat in medium-growing chickens. Soybean expeller cake...
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002315 |
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| author | Francesco Serrapica Claudia Lambiase Felicia Masucci Ada Braghieri Jose Manuel Lorenzo Antonio Di Francia |
| author_facet | Francesco Serrapica Claudia Lambiase Felicia Masucci Ada Braghieri Jose Manuel Lorenzo Antonio Di Francia |
| author_sort | Francesco Serrapica |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the feasibility of integrating feed-grade hempseed (FG-HS), an emerging by-product of the oil industry, into organic poultry production, focusing on its impact on growth performance, slaughter yield, and quality traits of meat in medium-growing chickens. Soybean expeller cake (SBE) was used for comparison. One hundred and twenty 21-day-old chickens were assigned to three dietary groups, each consisting of two replicates of twenty chickens. Treatments included a control diet containing 30 % SBE and two experimental diets with FG-HS replacing SBE at 50 % (H15) or 100 % (H30). Trial lasted 14 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, birds were sacrificed for carcass evaluation, including welfare-related traits. Rheological, nutritional, and sensory properties of breast meat were also evaluated. Birds fed the H30 diet showed a trend toward lower incidence of footpad dermatitis (P = 0.06), cleaner plumage (P < 0.03), higher final live weight (P < 0.05), and heavier viscera (P < 0.05) compared to the SBE and H15 groups. No effects of diet were found for eviscerated carcass weights, commercial cut yield or meat quality traits such as composition, amino acid profile, water holding capacity, and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Notably, FG-HS inclusion significantly reduced saturated fatty acid levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 for H30 and H15 diets, respectively), while increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The H30 diet enhanced overall flavor intensity (P < 0.01) and significantly reduced (P < 0.01) fibrousness, gumminess, and mouth residue. Results suggest that FG-HS can be successfully integrated into broiler diets at inclusion rates up to 30 % without compromising bird growth performance, carcass and meat traits. Moreover, FG-HS at the highest inclusion level shows potential for enhancing breast meat quality in terms of fatty acid profile and sensory characteristics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf1c6525e7284fef9d7a1f58ed8ffd3a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-1543 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Journal of Agriculture and Food Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf1c6525e7284fef9d7a1f58ed8ffd3a2025-08-20T02:31:01ZengElsevierJournal of Agriculture and Food Research2666-15432025-06-012110186010.1016/j.jafr.2025.101860Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat qualityFrancesco Serrapica0Claudia Lambiase1Felicia Masucci2Ada Braghieri3Jose Manuel Lorenzo4Antonio Di Francia5Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, 80055, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, 80055, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, 80055, Italy; Corresponding author.School of Agricultural, Forest, Food, and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100, Potenza, ItalyMeat Technology Centre of Galicia (CTC), San Cibrao das Viñas, 32900, Ourense, Spain; Food Technology Area, Faculty of Science of Ourense, University of Vigo, 32004, Ourense, SpainDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici, 80055, ItalyThis study investigated the feasibility of integrating feed-grade hempseed (FG-HS), an emerging by-product of the oil industry, into organic poultry production, focusing on its impact on growth performance, slaughter yield, and quality traits of meat in medium-growing chickens. Soybean expeller cake (SBE) was used for comparison. One hundred and twenty 21-day-old chickens were assigned to three dietary groups, each consisting of two replicates of twenty chickens. Treatments included a control diet containing 30 % SBE and two experimental diets with FG-HS replacing SBE at 50 % (H15) or 100 % (H30). Trial lasted 14 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, birds were sacrificed for carcass evaluation, including welfare-related traits. Rheological, nutritional, and sensory properties of breast meat were also evaluated. Birds fed the H30 diet showed a trend toward lower incidence of footpad dermatitis (P = 0.06), cleaner plumage (P < 0.03), higher final live weight (P < 0.05), and heavier viscera (P < 0.05) compared to the SBE and H15 groups. No effects of diet were found for eviscerated carcass weights, commercial cut yield or meat quality traits such as composition, amino acid profile, water holding capacity, and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Notably, FG-HS inclusion significantly reduced saturated fatty acid levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 for H30 and H15 diets, respectively), while increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The H30 diet enhanced overall flavor intensity (P < 0.01) and significantly reduced (P < 0.01) fibrousness, gumminess, and mouth residue. Results suggest that FG-HS can be successfully integrated into broiler diets at inclusion rates up to 30 % without compromising bird growth performance, carcass and meat traits. Moreover, FG-HS at the highest inclusion level shows potential for enhancing breast meat quality in terms of fatty acid profile and sensory characteristics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002315Organic agricultureMedium-growing broilerFeed-grade hempseedGrowth performanceFatty acid compositionSensory profile |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Serrapica Claudia Lambiase Felicia Masucci Ada Braghieri Jose Manuel Lorenzo Antonio Di Francia Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality Journal of Agriculture and Food Research Organic agriculture Medium-growing broiler Feed-grade hempseed Growth performance Fatty acid composition Sensory profile |
| title | Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality |
| title_full | Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality |
| title_fullStr | Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality |
| title_short | Feed-grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet: Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality |
| title_sort | feed grade hempseed as alternative protein source in organic broilers diet growth performance carcass characteristics and meat quality |
| topic | Organic agriculture Medium-growing broiler Feed-grade hempseed Growth performance Fatty acid composition Sensory profile |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154325002315 |
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