DOI: https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/27.2.5347
Original scientific paper
Effects of fermented feed and pasture access on growth performance, meat quality and fatty acid profile in red broiler chickens
2026, 27 (2) p. 341-353
Bruna TARIBA, Dragica ŠALAMON, Manuela KOŠEVIĆ, Zvonimir STEINER, Kristina KLJAK, Liča LOZICA, Željko GOTTSTEIN
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of fermented feed and pasture access on growth performance, feed intake, and meat quality in slow-growing red broiler chickens over a 121-day production period. A total of 125 chickens were assigned to three treatments: fermented feed with pasture access (FerVP_pasture), dry feed with pasture access (VP_pasture), and dry feed under indoor conditions (VP). Growth performance was monitored throughout the experimental period, and meat quality was assessed based on proximate composition, oxidative stability, and fatty acid profile. Chickens reared under indoor conditions (VP) achieved the highest final body weight, whereas the FerVP_pasture group showed reduced feed intake with comparable growth performance, indicating improved feed utilization efficiency. Meat quality parameters were significantly influenced by the feeding regime. The VP group exhibited higher fat content and increased lipid oxidation, while pasture-based systems resulted in leaner meat and improved oxidative stability. Fatty acid analysis revealed significant differences in PUFA composition, with the VP group showing higher n-3 PUFA content, while the FerVP_pasture group achieved a more balanced n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. All treatments maintained values below the recommended threshold for human health. The results suggest that the combination of fermented feed and pasture access represents a promising strategy for improving feed efficiency and meat quality in alternative poultry production systems, while maintaining acceptable growth performance in male and female animals.
Keywords
broilers, fermented feed, pasture, meat quality, fatty acid, feed
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