Variations in the carcass traits of three strains of broiler chickens

Abstract

The variation in carcass traits of Arbo acre, Cobb and Marshall strains were evaluated at the poultry unit of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria. Three hundred day-old broiler chicks were raised under the same management conditions for eight weeks and slaughtered. Data collected include slaughter weight, plucked carcass weight, edible carcass, dressing yield, primal cut outs and internal organ weights. Results of the study showed that Marshall strain had the highest slaughter, plucked and edible carcass weights while the least values were measured for Arbo acre strain. The least inedible carcass was found in Cobb strain with a mean value of 465.32 ± 8.96 g. Cobb and Marshall strain had similar dressing yield of 77.19 ± 3.79% and 76.51 ± 2.26% respectively while the least dressing yield of 70.63 ± 1.74% was recorded for Arbo acre strain.The highest feather weight and percentage was recorded for Arbo acre. Cobb strain had higher percentage of breast muscle (16.60 ± 0.45%) than Marshall strain (14.70 ± 0.31%). Marshall strain had the highest weight of lung, full and empty gizzard. In conclusion variations exist in carcass traits of broilers in favour of Marshall and Cobb strain.

Key words: Strain; Broiler; Slaughter weight; Dressing yield