COMPARISON OF PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO BREEDS OF BROILER CHICKENS REARED ON DIFFERENT HOUSING SYSTEMS

Résumé

A total of one hundred and eighty unsexed one day-old Arbor Acre and Marshall breeds of broiler chickens were used to compare the performance and carcass characteristics of two breeds of broiler chickens reared on different housing systems. The birds were brooded for 3 weeks and thereafter acclimatized for one week in their respective housing systems (deep litter and outdoor run). Each of the housing systems was allotted 90 chicks per breed with three replicates of 15 birds each. Data were collected weekly on weight gain and feed intake, while feed conversion ratio was calculated. At the end of the study, 2 birds of representative weight in each replicate were selected for carcass evaluation. The experiment was arranged ina 2 x 2 factorial layout in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for 28 days (finishing phase). The results of performance of broiler chickens showed significantly (p<0.05) higher final weight (2012.06g/b), weight gain (48.45g/b/d) and feed intake (151.74g/b/d) in Arbor Acre breed compared with the final weight (1890.15g/b), weight gain (45.82g/b/d) and feed intake (144.60g/b/d) obtained in Marshall breed. Also, significantly (p<0.05) higher weight gain and better feed conversion ratio was observed in broiler chickens reared on deep litter system while those reared on outdoor run had 49.11g/b/d and 3.01 for weight gain and feed conversion ratio, respectively. There was no significant (p> 0.05) effect of breed on carcass characteristics. Birds reared on deep litter were superior in cut-up parts compared to those kept on outdoor run. In conclusion, Arbor Acre breed was better in terms of growth performance and carcass characteristics. However, the two breeds of broiler chickens reared on deep litter housing system had better performance and carcass characteristics compared to those on outdoor run.