Breast muscle (Pectoralis major plus minor) and abdominal fat weights were measured after carcass dissection, 1
day post-slaughter. Corresponding ratios were calculated in relation to live body weight at 6 weeks. All measurements
for meat characteristics were performed on the Pectoralis major muscle. The pH at 15 min and 24 h post
mortem was measured with a portable pH-meter (Model 506, Crison Instruments, SA, Spain) equipped with a
xerolyte electrode. At 15 min post mortem, pH was estimated from 2 g of muscle mixed in 18 mL of a 5 mM
iodoacetate solution. This method was described as a reference method by Santé and Fernandez [22]. At 24 h post
mortem, the ultimate pH of meat (pHu) was recorded by direct insertion of the xerolyte electrode in the muscle.
This method was adopted because of the significant correlation obtained 24 h post mortem between the direct tissue
measurement of pH and the reference "iodoacetate" method