The evaluation of meat yield and physical properties in the Czech goose and the commercial hybrid the Novohradská goose

The aim of this study was to compare meat yield and physical meat properties in two genotypes of goose, i.e. the Czech goose (CG) and the Novohradská goose (NG), in dependence on sex. Slaughter analysis and evaluation of meat quality were conducted at the age of 56 days in 32 goslings (8 of each genotype and sex). Significant interactions between genotype and sex were found in live weight (P < 0.001), with the highest slaughter weight in NG males (5 026.25 g) and the lowest in CG females (3 525.00 g), and in carcass weight (P < 0.001; CG females 2 197.50 g and NG males 3 257.50 g). Genotype significantly affected thigh meat as a proportion of carcass (P = 0.048) with a higher value (15.54%) in the CG. When meat colour parameters were evaluated, the lightness of the thighs (P = 0.034) was found to be influenced by sex, with higher values in females. Meat colour parameters in the thighs were demonstrably influenced by genotype – parameter a* (P = 0.025), for which higher values were found in the NG (7.57), and b* (P = 0.031), with a value of 12.01 in the NG. The pH of the breast was significantly influenced by both genotype (P = 0.026; 5.72 in the CH and 5.77 in the NG) and sex (P = 0.033), with higher values in males than in females.