Growth performance , carcass morphology and meat quality of meat from roosters 1 slaughtered at eight months affected by genotype and finishing feeding

21 The aim of this study was to describe the carcass characteristics and the meat quality 22 of the roosters from the autochthonous Mos breed slaughtered at 8 months. With comparative 23 purpose rooster from hybrid line Sasso T44 was used in this study. Birds were reared on their 24 typical production system (extensive indoor or barns and finishing diet whit corn). Both live 25 weight and carcass weight were higher for commercial breed (p<0.001). Drumstick, thigh and 26 wing percentages were greater in Mos breed than in Sasso T-44, while breast was similar for 27 both genotypes. Only significant differences in cholesterol and α-tocopherol content between 28 genotypes have been found, whereas finishing feeding treatment had effect on moisture, 29 intramuscular fat content, cholesterol, tocopherol isomers and in meat yellowness. 30 Unsaturated fatty acids constituted the main contribution to total amount of fatty acid (FA), 31 where monounsaturated oleic acid was the major compound, and found higher concentrations 32 in commercial breed. Mos breed showed higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids 33