This research was carried out to determine the effects of meat piece, packaging type and storage time on the pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total mesophilic, total psychrotrophic, lactic acid and Enterobacteriaceae counts at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 days of storage, in broilers fed diets containing 0% (H-0, 1% (H-1), 2% (H-3) and 3% (H-3) levels of ram horn hydrolisate (RHH) in daily water requirements of chicks during experimental periods. A total of 240 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were allocated to four dietary treatments (H-0, H-1, H-2 and H-3 groups) in a completely randomized experimental design. RHH-added water and feed were offered ad libitum consumption for the first 28 days of the experiment; and then they were fed only a basal diet and normal drinking water to the end of the study. At the end of the trial all the birds were slaughtered, then standard dissection of carcasses, breasts and drumsticks were divided into two groups for vacuum and aerobic packaging. Packed breasts and drumsticks were stored at 3 +/- 0.5 degrees C for 12 days, and the pH, TBARS and microbial counts were determined during the storage period. The use of ram horn hydrolysate at 1% and 3% levels in broiler diets increased pH values of breast fillets and drumstick meats (p < 0.01). TBARS value (p < 0.01) and Enterobacteriaceae counts (p < 0.01) decreased compared to the control group. pH, TBARS and Enterobacteriaceae counts were lower (p < 0.05) in breast fillets than drumstick muscles. The pH, TBARS and bacteria counts increased during storage (p < 0.01). The vacuum packaging preserved the meat quality properties of broiler breast fillets and drumsticks meats (p < 0.05). The results obtained from the present study, concluded that the use of ram horn hydrolysate in broiler diet decreased lipid oxidation of the broiler breast and drumstick meats, and the level of Enterobacteriaceae was also reduced in vacuum packed samples during the storage period.
