Muscle Characteristics
The birds in the 35-d group had lower L* value than
did birds in the control group and 70-d group (P <
0.05; Table 7). No difference in the a* and b* values
was observed among the treatments (P > 0.05). The
birds in the outdoor groups had a significantly lower
pH decline and a higher ultimate pH in the thigh muscle
than birds in the control group (P < 0.05; Table
7). Differences in pH decline were also observed in the
breast muscle (P < 0.05). The breast meat from outdoor
broilers had a higher shear force than that of indoor
birds (P < 0.05; Table 7). Outdoor access had no
effect on water-holding capacity, including drip loss and
cook loss (P > 0.05; Table 7). The muscle fiber characteristics
of both the breast and thigh muscles were
unaffected by outdoor access (P > 0.05; Table 8).