Carcass characteristics of different marketing weight standards in South Korea chicken grading system

s of papers 85 Processing and Products 223 Carcass characteristics of different marketing weight standards in South Korea chicken grading system design. H. S Chae*1, C. N Ahn1, Y. M Yoo1, S. H Cho1, J. M Lee1, and Y. I Choi2, 1National Livestock Research Institute, RDA, 2Dept. of Animal Science, Chungbuk National University. The purpose of this study was to investigate the carcass characteristics of different marketing weight standards in the South Korea chicken grading system. Nine-hundred and forty broiler chickens were slaughtered. The carcasses were divided 13 groups(5ho-13ho) by carcasses weight(451g1,750g). Remaining feathers,fine feathers, wound, the major axis length of discoloration, clots of blood, fracture, appearance, and pollution of bile were recorded. Feathers(<1cm) remaining under two were detected 95% in 5ho and 17ho chickens and 98% in 7ho to 15ho chickens. The remaining feather contents were higher in 5ho, 6ho and 17 ho chickens than 7ho to 16ho chickens. Chickens in 5ho(5.0%) and 7ho(7.5%) had excess fine feathers more than the other chicken groups, also 8ho to 10ho(2.5%); however they decreased as chicken weight increased. The small exposure of fleshes(<2cm) on breast and leg parts were higher in 5ho(7.5%) and 17ho(5.0%) than the other chickens and the of big exposure fleshes(>2cm) above 2cm were detected 1.3% to 2.5% in 5ho to 13ho chickens which having relatively a small weight. The major axises of discoloration(1.5-2.5cm) were not detected in 8ho to 14ho chickens, but were detected 1.3% to 3.8% in 5ho to 7ho chickens and 15ho and 16ho chickens in especially on breast and leg parts. Bone fractures were higher in 17ho chickens(10%) than the other chicken groups. Bone fractures were detected by 2.5% in 5ho, 9ho and 15ho groups. Damage of appearance were higher in 10ho(8.8%), 13ho(7.6%) and 17ho(10%) than the other chickens. The frequency rates for incomplete removal of intestine, a bromchus or blood contaminated chickens were evenly distributed in all chicken groups(1.3%-3.85%).