December 8, 2006

Powdered mulberry leaf proven to improve broiler meat quality in China

Chinese research has shown that the use of powdered mulberry leave as a feed additive yields chickens with better taste and tenderness.

The research on the product from Beijing Sangrui Biotech Co was conducted by the China Agricultural University. The product also increased the taste component of the breast meat by 20.6 percent while increasing its freshness by 12 percent. At the same time, the cross-sectional area of the muscle fibre is reduced by 34 percent, making it more tender.

The fact that mulberry leaves can improve the taste and meat quality of broilers is an important discovery in a period of falling standards in chicken meat taste for caged-chickens. The discovery would increase the appeal of chickens sold by poultry integrators and provide a powerful alternative in the intensely competitive chicken market.

A report from a research centre in Japan's Hokkaido confirmed that a 3-percent mulberry leaf powder feed can greatly increase the flavour and quality of broiler meat.