Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to determine body weight and dimensions, body conformation, length of the esophagus, length of intestine and its segments, as well as weight of internal organs and their proportions relative the body weight of broiler chickens from three commercial lines - Ross 308, Hubbard Flex and Hubbard F15. At the age of 42 days, Ross 308 chickens had significantly (p≤0.05) shorter trunk, but greater chest circumference and compactness index, as well as shorter esophagus and longer large intestine compared with Hubbard F15. The longest large and total intestine was found in Ross 308 broilers. Chicken genotype had no significant effect on the percentage of the main internal organs, i.e. liver, heart, proventriculus, gizzard, and spleen. In the analyzed broilers, the coefficients of correlation between body weight and dimensions and the length of the esophagus, small intestine, caeca and large intestine were low and not significant. This study provides information relevant to breeding practice, including that the development of internal organs in broiler chickens raised under intensive conditions has an effect on their meat characteristics.
Highlights
Over the last few decades, broiler chicken performance has improved considerably, mainly as a result of selection for improved feed conversion and rapid rate of growth
The mean body weight of the evaluated broiler chicken lines, which ranged from 2101.1 g (Ross 308) to 2154.4 g (Hubbard Flex) at 42 days of age, may be indicative of their normal development resulting mainly from appropriate nutrition and environmental conditions of the buildings during the rearing period (Table 1)
The body weight of 42-day-old broiler chickens in our study was similar to the findings of Doktor & Połtowicz (2009) and Biesiada-Drzazga et al (2011)
Summary
Over the last few decades, broiler chicken performance has improved considerably, mainly as a result of selection for improved feed conversion and rapid rate of growth. The growth period was considerably reduced (to 5 or 6 weeks) and the proportion of breast muscle in the chicken body/carcass increased with a decrease in heart percentage (Schmidt, et al, 2009). The selection of broiler chickens for rapid growth has a considerable influence on the development of muscle tissue and of the circulatory, digestive and nervous systems. In a study by Schmidt et al (2009), the liver matured earlier and jejunal and ileal sections of the intestine were 20% longer in a modern broiler line (Ross 708) compared to a heritage line (UIUC) unselected since the 1950s. Lumpkins et al (2010) showed that different genetic lines of broiler chickens have varying rates of intestinal development. Shorter and lighter jejunum, ileum and duodenum were found in modern HY (high-yield) and MP (multipurpose) strains than in slow-growing ACR (Athens Canadian Random Bred) chickens
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