Abstract: To study the effects of dietary nutrient level on slaughter performance and meat quality indices of yellow-feathered broiler, two stages of feeding experiments with Gansu yellow broiler of 0～4 week-age and 5～14 week-age were conducted. Yellow broilers were divided into A, B, C in the first stage, and the B were into BH, B, BL in the second stage, with nutrient level 100%, 90%, 80% of Chinese feeding standard of broiler (1986). Carcass determination and meat quality analysis results showed that all absolute slaughter indices of group A were highest, except for thigh weight and abodominal fat percentage, significantly higher than those of group B, BL and C (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between any other groups (P>0.05). Of the relative slaughter indices, dressed percentage, half-eviscerated yield percentage and abdominal fat percentage of group A were highest, signifcantly higher than those of group BL (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between any other groups (P>0.05). With nutrient level increased, abdominal fat percentage and dry matter content of breast muscle increased, and water loss rate of breast muscle decreased. Either breast muscle or leg muscle, all meat quality indices including pH at 45 minute, pH at 24 hour, dry matter content, water loss rate and water-binding capacity between any groups showed no significant difference (P>0.05).

Key words: nutrient; slaughter performance; meat quality; yellow-feathered broiler