Abstract
This study's objective was to evaluate the influence of thermal environment and air velocity during the rearing phase on European quail meat quality traits. A total of 1,152 one-day-old European quail chicks were placed inside floor pens within environmental chambers. Each experimental period was approximately 5 wks, with birds slaughtered at 37 d of age. The experimental design consisted of a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments in completely randomized design with 2 air velocities (0 and 2 m/s) × 4 air temperatures (severe cold [SC], moderate cold, thermal comfort, and moderate heat [MH]). ANOVA, with air velocity and thermal environment as fixed effects, was performed to evaluate the effect of main factors and their interaction on meat quality traits, using the GLM procedure (SAS 9.4). Least square means of treatments effects were compared using Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Lightness (L∗), redness (a∗), and yellowness (b∗), of quail meat were affected by thermal environment and air velocity (P < 0.05). Initial and final L∗ values were greater for MH (P < 0.05). Meat from birds subjected to 2 m/s air velocity had lower final L∗, but no velocity effect was noted for initial L∗. Quail meat from SC presented higher initial and final a∗ values compared with the other thermal environment groups (P ≤ 0.001). Final a∗ was affected by air velocity (P < 0.05). Initial and final b∗ values for meat from MH were greater, 13.8 and 15.2, respectively, differing from the other treatment environments (P < 0.05). However, air velocity did not influence b∗ values (P > 0.05). Interactions were not significant for pHu (P = 0.993). Thawing loss and shear force were affected by treatments (P < 0.05) but not ultimate pH, drip loss, or sarcomere length. This study demonstrates that thermal environments and air velocity affect quail meat quality traits. Further investigation is recommended to explore effects of air velocity and thermal environment on muscle proteolysis of quail meat quality.