Productive response of two species of chickens (Mexican native and Sasso), in confinement and grazing white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

Abstract

Objective: To determine the productive behavior and forage consumption (Trifolium repens L.) of Mexican native and Sasso chickens, under two rearing systems (confinement or grazing).
 Design/Methodology/Approach: One-hundred twenty-eight chickens (64 Mexican native (MN) and 64 Sasso (S)) of 35 d of age were randomly distributed in two production systems to obtain four repetitions (eight chickens per repetition) of each of the following genotype × system combinations: Mexican native in grazing, Mexican native in confinement, Sasso in grazing, and Sasso in confinement. A completely randomized experimental design with a 2×2 factorial arrangement was used, with genotype and production system as its main factors. The following variables were evaluated: feed consumption, weight gain, and feed conversion. Additionally, forage consumption in grazing birds was determined.
 Results: The productive performance variables were not affected by the production system factors or by its interaction with the bird genotype. However, the genotype did influence the variables considered: the Sasso birds recorded better values (p ≤ 0.05) than Mexican native specimens. Regarding forage consumption, no differences were observed (p ≤ 0.05) between bird genotypes and, in both cases, the accumulated consumption at the 49 d of study was close to 60 g of DM.
 Study Limitations/Implications: It is necessary to carry out a socioeconomic study as well as a defoliation level analysis with the aim of improving the use of the resource.
 Findings/Conclusions: Mexican native birds had a lower productive performance with a similar forage consumption.