THE EFFECT OF BEE POLLEN ON BROILER BREAST AND THIGH MEAT COLOUR L* a* b*

Abstract

The present study was aimed to investigate the impact of the addition bee pollen as supplements diet into the broiler feed mixture on broiler breast and thigh meat colour such as L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values. A total of the 180 chickens in one day old chickens hybrid combination Ross 308 which were divided into 6 groups (n=30): control, (I, II, III, IV and V) experimental groups. The value of L* in the control group was higher compared to the experimental groups except (II, IV) groups. The a* value in the breast was tended slightly to green in control and (I, V) groups only in (II, III, IV) groups which the value of the a* was tended slightly to redness colour and there were found significant differences (P≤0.05) between control and (II, III, IV) groups in breast and thigh muscles. Further, in the breast and thigh they were found that the b* value was higher in the control group compared to the experimental groups (I, II, III, IV and V) and there were found significant differences (P≤0.05) between control group and (II, III) groups. However, they were conclude that the bee pollen has no effect on broiler breast and thigh meat colour L* (lightness), otherwise they were found that the bee pollen in the amount (1500, 2500 and 3500 mg.kg-1) were tended the broiler breast muscles to redness coloour slightly compared to the experimental group.