Abstract
The comparative slaughter technique for estimating changes in body composition relies on the ability to predict accurately initial carcass composition; in many experiments the only independent variable is live body weight (LW).The relationships of total carcass energy (TCE), nitrogen (TCN), fat (TCF), ash (TCA), and water (TCW) with LW were examined in two sets of broiler chick data and one set of data from adult, Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) cockerels. For chicks, the linear relationships between TCW, TCN, and to a lesser extent, TCE and TCA with LW were strong [multiple coefficients of determination (R2) = .766 to .984], but the association between TCF and LW was generally weaker (R2 = .531 to .700). For adult birds, the R2 values involving LW were smaller, particularly for TCN (.386) and TCW (.365).The statistical analyses indicated it was possible to use LW to predict accurately the body composition of young broiler chicks (14 to 18 days of age), particularly males, but LW was unable to provide an accurate estimate of the body composition of mature SCWL cockerels. The failure to make satisfactory predictions from adults reflected the great variation in body composition among birds of similar LW.
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