Live Performance, Carcass Yield, and Welfare of Broilers of Different Genetic Strains Reared at Different Housing Densities

Abstract

This study evaluated the performance, carcass yield and quality, and physiological stress indicators of broilers of three genetic strains reared at three housing densities for 29 days. A total of 828 day-old male chicks, with average initial weight of 40.0± 2.0g were used. Three genetic strains (Cobb 500, Ross 808, and Ross 508, with 276 birds each) and three housing densities (17, 19, and 21 broilers/m²) were tested. A completely randomized experimental design in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement, with four replicates of 23 birds each, was applied. The following responses were evaluated: performance parameters (average weekly body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio), physiological stress indicators (blood glucose levels, blood cell counts), and carcass yield and quality (dermatosis, bruising, dermatitis, and femoral degeneration scores). Average weekly body weight (BW) and daily weight gain (DWG) were not influenced by rearing density (p≥0.05), but Cobb 500 broilers were the heaviest during the analyzed period. In the second week, Ross 508 birds showed better feed conversion ratio (FCR) when housed at the density of 17 broilers/m² (p≤0.001), whereas the best FCR of Ross 808 and Cobb 500 broilers was obtained at 21 broilers/m² (p≤0.001). Carcass yield was not influenced by the treatments (p≥0.05). Physiological stress indicators were not affected by the treatments, and remained within normal ranges (p≥0.05). Dermatosis scores (scratches) increased (p≤0.05) when housing density increased from 17 to 19 broilers /m².

Effect of Environmental Heat Stress on Performance and Carcass Yield of Broiler Chicks

“…To evaluate the heat stress in birds the blood glucose levels and Total Blood Cell Counts (TBCC) were used as measures (Walberg et al, 2001;Arruda et al, 2016).…”

Time series evaluation of condemnation at poultry slaughterhouses enable to export in Southeastern Brazil (2009–2019): a tool for optimizing resources in the poultry production chain

“…Evaluating Groups A and B, it was evidenced that there was a higher rate of condemnation in the period in which only heavy chickens were slaughtered (Table 2 ). The higher age of these animals at slaughter, compared to griller chickens, and the high stocking rate of the sheds were factors directly linked to the increase in the occurrence of condemnation [ 16 ]. Turkeys showed little impact on this COI variation, as they represented only 5% of the total number of animals slaughtered in the period evaluated.…”

Evaluasi Performa dan Income Over Feed & Chick Cost (IOFCC) Tiga Strain Ayam Broiler yang Beredar di Aceh

“…Amao et al (2015) melaporkan ayam broiler strain Cobb yang diteliti di Nigeria memiliki performa lebih superior dibandingkan dengan strain Marshall. Arruda et al (2016) melaporkan ayam broiler strain Cobb yang diteliti (sampai umur 29 hari) di Brazil memiliki pertambahan bobot badan yang lebih tinggi daripada Ross 508 dan Ross 808. Dari Gambar 1 terlihat bahwa bobot badan dan PBB Cobb 500 sampai umur 4 minggu masih mendekati bobot badan MB 202 dan CP 707.…”