Assessment of feeding hydroponic fodder in Gerze (Turkish native) chicken on carcass and meat quality characteristics

Abstract Background Recently, hydroponic feed production has come to the fore to reduce the intense competition between food and feed production in the poultry industry, improve product quality, and make environmentally friendly and sustainable production. It is thought that using hydroponic forage resources in the poultry industry positively affects production performance, welfare level, and digestive system microflora. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the effects of hydroponic green fodder (HGF) supplementation on carcass characteristics and meat quality during the last 1/4 of the growth period in the slow-growing Gerze Turkish native chicken breed. Methods Chicks were fed ad libitum with starter feed (until 8 wk), finisher feed (8–14 wk), and from 14 to 18 wk were allocated to either finisher feed alone (control) or finisher feed plus HGF. Results Abdominal fat weight, dry matter percentage, and protein content were significantly higher in chickens fed the commercial diet (CD) compared with the HGF group (P