Comparative Study on Carcass Quality Characteristics of Indigenous Chickens and Their F1-Crosses with the Sasso Chicken Breed in Sheka Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in three districts of Sheka zone in southern Ethiopia with the objective of comparing the carcass quality characteristics of indigenous chickens and their F1-crosses with Sasso chicken breed under traditional production system. One hundred eighty households were purposely selected who possess a minimum of three adult chickens. For the evaluation of carcass quality traits, 84 male chickens were used that have been drawn from both indigenous and F1-crossbred chickens. The results indicated that the F1-crosses chickens reared within three districts had higher (p<0.05) values of all carcass quality traits than the local chickens except for the dressing percentages, which was highest in the local chickens. Except breast, thighs, neck, keel bone, liver and gizzard, all carcass component values of chickens raised in Anderacha and Masha districts were higher (p<0.05) than those of Yeki. The highest values for breast and gizzard were observed from Mash chickens and differed (p<0.05) from those of the two districts. The effect of genotype was highly significant for all carcass components while that of district was significant for dressed carcass, dressing percentage, breast meat, drumsticks, wings, skin, backbone, heart and gizzard. The interaction between genotype and district was significant for only neck and backbone. There was a strong and positive association among all carcass components except for dressing percentage, which had a negative correlation with carcass traits. In conclusion, the F1-crosses demonstrated the highest carcass potentials and could be used as meat or dual-purpose chickens under the smallholder settings. However, care must be taken for unjustified distribution of exotic chicken breeds in the rural community to prevent genetic dilution of the well-adapted indigenous chicken ecotypes.

Estimation of Carcass Trait Characteristics, Proportions, and Their Correlation with Preslaughter Body Weight in Indigenous Chickens in Southeastern Ethiopia

“…Nevertheless, Motsepe et al [19] reported that the weight (yield) for the thigh and breast of Ovambo and Potchefstroom Koekoek indigenous chickens in South Africa exceeded those observed in the current study. The values observed in the present study were similar to those reported by Alemneh et al [17] regarding the weights of the heart and liver in indigenous chicken breeds in southwestern Ethiopia. Abdullah and Buchtova [30] reported higher yields for the heart, gizzard, and liver in organic commercial broiler chickens and conventional commercial broiler chicken carcasses.…”

“…The dressing percentage value for Goba (76.8%) and Agarfa (80.9%) indigenous chickens observed in our results showed a higher dressing percentage compared to that of Mogesse [16], who reported that the percentage value for local chicken ecotypes reared in Northwestern Ethiopia was 65.7%. However, Alemneh et al [17] reported lower values than the present results for local and F1-crosses in indigenous chicken breeds in southwestern Ethiopia. Moreover, the dressing percentage of an indigenous chicken in the present study was higher than that described by Magala et al [22] for free-range, run, and deep litter in local Ugandan chickens and Melesse et al [23] for commercial Koekoek chickens reared in Ethiopia under intensive management.…”

“…However, a higher wing (weight) yield was reported for Savanna and forest indigenous chickens and Label Rouge chickens [21]. The findings of the study conducted by Alemneh et al [17] indicated higher yield (weight) for the thigh, drumstick, wing, neck, skin, and backbone of indigenous chicken breeds from southwestern Ethiopia, whereas a lower yield (weight) was observed for the breast, compared to the current study. Nevertheless, Motsepe et al [19] reported that the weight (yield) for the thigh and breast of Ovambo and Potchefstroom Koekoek indigenous chickens in South Africa exceeded those observed in the current study.…”

“…This may be attributed to management systems, breed types, and geographical differences. Moreover, the results of Alemneh et al [17] showed higher dressed carcass weight yield for local and F1-crosses of indigenous chicken breeds in Sheka, southwestern Ethiopia, compared to our study. However, the value revealed in the present study was higher than that reported by Youssao et al [21] for forest chickens and lower than that reported for Label Rouge and Savanna indigenous chickens.…”

Crossbreeding to improve local chicken breeds: predicting growth performance of the crosses using the Gompertz model and estimated heterosis

“…As in the present trial, several authors have used SA chickens to produce F 1 with improved growth rate, feed intake, and hatchability compared to pure lines ( Alemneh et al, 2021 ; Bilalissi et al, 2022 ). Our findings showed that SA differed from BP and RM for all the growth curve parameters ( A, b , and k ) and derived indices as well as for the BW from posthatching to slaughtering.…”