Abstract
Production and slaughter traits of autosexing broiler combination reared either sex separate or mixed were investigated. A total of 180 day-old feather sexed broiler chicks were divided into three groups (n=60)- two sex separate (male and female) and one mixed (1:1), each with two replications of 30 birds. Body weight and feed intake were followed on a weekly basis; the average daily feed intake and feed conversion were calculated. By the end of the experiment (day 49), slaughter analysis was performed on 20 birds: 5 broilers from each of sex separate groups, 5 males and 5 females from the mixed group with live weight close to the group average. The carcass weight (g), weights of carcass cuts, giblets and abdominal fat were determined. Slaughter yield and body parts ratios were calculated. The results demonstrated that sex separate rearing of broilers contributed to higher final body weight - by 6.9 % in females (P<0.05) and by 2.9 % in males (P>0.05), but had no effect on feed conversion. Sex separate rearing resulted in heavier carcasses by 3.6% (P<0.05) and more uniform weight as compared to mixed rearing. The sex effect on body weight and slaughter traits was more considerable in males with respect to carcass, thigh, back, wings and giblets weights (P<0.05) but not abdominal fat whose weight was higher in female broilers (P<0.05). Better uniformity of final body weight of broilers reared sex separate and the reduced variation in carcass weight and weight of cuts (breast and thigh) would facilitate slaughterhouse processing and would contribute to the realization of produce and meeting distribution network demands
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