The effects of genetic, physiological, and environmental factors(temperature, and type of watering system) on growth factors, accumulation of abdominal fat(AF), and the association between growth factors and AF of broilers and Athens-Canadian Randombred (ACRB) were studied in a series of nine trials. The final BW(6 or 7 wk) and 4-6 or 5-7 wk gain (G) were greater in groups raised at 21.1˚C than 26.7˚C. There was no consistent effects of environmental temperature on feed conversion ratio (FCR) although the FCR was significantly (P$\leq$.o5) reduced in 21. 1˚C group compared with the 26.7˚C group in two of six trials. The overall mean weight of AF relative to BW at 43 or 50 days of age were not significantly different between temperature groups: the means of AF of 21.1˚C and 26.7˚C groups were 1.81 and 1.78%, respectively. Environmental temperature had no consistent effect on the relationship between 4-6 or 5-7 wk C and 43 or 50 days AF, and 4-6 wk FCR and 43-days AF ; however, the association of 50 days AF with 5-7 wk FCR was highly significant in both temperature groups. The overall mean of correlation coefficient between FCR and AF was very low (r=.107). The waterer types did not significantly affect the AF. Generally, the effect of sex on the relationship between G and AF was not consistent in both sex groups. However, the association of AF with G was much greater in ACRB group compared with broiler group. The initial body weights (4 or S wk) was significantly (P$\leq$.001) correlated with AF in ACRB group, but not in the broiler groups. The effect of sire on AF was very high(P$\leq$.0001) in five of six trials.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects on shelf-life of chilling and packing methods of cold chicken breast and thigh meats. Deboned chicken breast and thigh meats were packed by either vacuum or atmosphere packing method, and stored at -2˚C for 1, 3, 7, 11, 15, and 20 days. The thiobarbituric acid(TBA) values of all treatments were significantly increased as the storage period extended(P<0.05), however, TBA values of all treatments were remark-ably decreased at 15 days. TBA values of immersion chilled and vacuum-packed thigh meats were increased, but no difference between atmosphere and vacuum-packing methods was found. The volatile basic nitrogen(VBN) values at 1 day of storage were low, but they were increased as the storage period extended. The VBN values at 20 days after storage were from 12.25~19.28 mg %. Total bacterial counts tended to increase in all treatments, however, no significant difference was found in any treatment. Total plate counts of breast meat were higher than those of thigh meat as the storage period extended.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different chilling and packing methods on physico-chernical properties of cold-stored chicken breast and thigh meats. Dehoned chicken breast and thigh meats were chilled either air spray or ice-water immersion method. The chilled meats were either vacuum packed or atmosphere packed, and stored at -2˚C for 1, 3, 7, 11, 15, and 20 days. The pH of both immersion chilled meats and vacuum packed meats were higher than those of their counterparts(P<0.05). The pH of atmosphere packed meats increased as the storage period extended. The moisture contents of vacuum packed meats were remarkably higher than those of atmosphere packed meats. The pH of all treatments decreased as the storage period extended. The shear values of air spray chilled and vacuum packed breast meats were significantly higher than immersion chilled and vacuum packed ones. However, immersion chilled and atmosphere packed breast meats were significantly higher than those of air spray chilled and atmosphere packed breast meats. The shear values of immersion chilled and vacuum packed thigh meats were significantly higher than those of immersion chilled and vacuum packed thigh meats. In atmosphere packed thigh meats, air spray chilling method showed higher shear values than those of immersion chilled thigh meats. In thigh muscle, tenderness values tended to decrease as the storage period extended(P<0.05). Contents of water soluble proteins of vacuum packed and air spray chilled breast and thigh meats were higher than those of their counterparts as the storage period extended(P<0.05). The contents of water soluble proteins significantly decreased as the storage period extended. Salt soluble proteins of atmosphere packed breast and thigh meats were remarkably higher than those of vacuum packed ones(P<0.05). Total lipid contents of atmosphere packed and air spray chilled breast and thigh meats were higher than those of atmosphere packed and immersion chilled meats as the storage period extended. The vacuum packed meats were significantly higher in total lipid contents than those of atmosphere packed meats. The storage period decreased the total lipid contents of cold chicken, Major fatty acids in cold-stored chicken were oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids, regardless of chilling method. Unsaturated fatty acids of all treatments decreased, but saturated fatty acids increased as the storage period extended.

An experiment was conducted for 20 days( from July 21 to August 10, 1996) to investigate the differences in thickness of eggshell and eggshell membrane in Korean native chicken. All the eggs were purchased from a farm located in Chinju area. All eggs were categorized into Treatment I (34.89~51.39 g), H (53.32~60.70 g), and III (34.89~60.70 g) according to their weights. Eleven items were measured in all three treatments, i.e., egg weight, egg length, egg width, breaking strength, eggshell thickness of large end(STLE), eggshell membrane thickness of large end(SMTL), eggshell thickness of small end (STSE), eggshell membrane thickness of small end(SMTS), eggshell thickness of middle part(STMP), and eggshell membrane thickness of middle part(SMTM). Correlation coefficients between egg weight and eggshell weight, among eggshell thickness of large end, small end and middle end and eggshell weight were significant (P<0.01). Correlation coefficients between egg weight and large eggshell membrane were nega-tively significant(P<0.01). Breaking strengths were higher in Treatment I than in Treatment H. Correlation coefficients among thickness of eggshell and eggshell membrane at each point at 3 parts of large end, small end and middle end were not significant.

Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of pelleting layer diets on the laying perforrnance and nutrients utilizability, using either 50-wk-old(Experiment 1) or 80-wk-old (Experiment 2) layers. There was no effect of pelleting layer diets on hen-day egg production and average egg weight but decreased (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio(intake /egg weight) in both experiments. Although both egg specific gravity and eggshell thickness were not influenced by pelleting eggshell breaking strength was improved(P<0.05) only in Experiment 1. Utilizability of dietary fat was improved(P<0.05) by pelleting layer diets with no difference in other nutrients utilizability. There was no difference in the passage rate of mash and pelleted layer diets.