Slaughter and Carcass Traits of Geese with Different Feather Colour and Gender

T Kırmızıbayrak,B Kuru Boğa

doi:10.1590/1806-9061-2017-0645

Abstract

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine slaughter and carcass traits of geese with different feather colour and gender. The study was conducted with Turkish geese in free-range production conditions in Kars, Turkey. A total of 282 geese (251 females, 31 males) were grouped by feather colour as black (n=49), white (n=77), black pied (n=127), and brown and brown tawny (n=29). Geese were weighed before slaughter and then the slaughter and carcass traits were determined. Data were subjected to one-way ANOVA, and post-hoc Tukey HSD test was applied to compare feather-colour means and the independent sample t-test was used to compare gender means. Feather colour did not influence (p>0.05) slaughter and carcass traits, except for hot carcass, feather and heart percentages (p<0.05). Males showed statistically higher feet (p<0.001), heart (p<0.01), liver (p<0.05) and gizzard (p<0.01) weights compared with females, as well as significantly higher (p<0.05) feet, heart, liver and gizzard yields. In conclusion, feather colour did not influence the evaluated slaughter and carcass characteristics of geese reared under semi-intensive conditions in the province of Kars, Turkey, and higher feet, heart, liver and gizzard weights and yields were obtained in males than in females.

Highlights

Turkish commercial poultry production is based, a very large extent, on hybrid broiler production
This study was carried out with Turkish geese reared on a commercial farm under free-range production conditions
No statistically significant slaughter and carcass weight differences were detected among the different feather colour groups (p>0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Turkish commercial poultry production is based, a very large extent, on hybrid broiler production. As to the production of other poultry, turkeys are more prevalent than geese in Turkey (Tuik, 2016). It is the 13th country in the number of geese, accounting for 0.28% of the world’s geese flock (Fao, 2014). Geese represent 0.12% of Turkey’s total number of poultry. The province of Kars is the main region of intensive goose production in Turkey. According to the data of the year 2016, about 30% of Turkey’s goose flocks are reared in that province (Tuik, 2016)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion