Comparison of the Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Haematological Parameters of Broiler Chicks Reared in Cage and Floor

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of housing systems on the performance, carcass characteristics and the haematology of 150 four-week old Anak titan strains of broiler chicks in a completely randomized design. The birds were allocated randomly into two treatment (cage and floor) groups of three replications containing 25 birds per replicate. They were maintained for a period of 4 weeks and data were collected on; final body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain and mortality. At the 56th week, carcass yield, cut-up parts and organs weights as well as some parameters were measured. The results showed that feed intake and feed:gain were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the cage system. Dressing percentage and breast weight were higher (p < 0.05) in the floor housing system while drumstick and lung weight were higher in the cage system. No significant (p > 0.05) difference was obtained in the haematology. It was then concluded that an improvement in the floor system could result into a better performance and an increased carcass yield.

Evaluation of Floor vs. Cage System of Broiler Chickens Reared in Three Different Areas of Enclosed Houses on Productive and Physiological Performance

“…In general, the results indicate that the studied hematological blood profile of the present experiment were not adversely affected by the housing systems (Mench 1992), and depicted equally sound health status and no infection among the experimental birds as a result of the housing system. This finding are confirmed by Sogunle et al (2008) found that no significant difference observed in the hematological parameters of broiler chickens due to housing system. However, rearing area significantly affected WBCs, RBCs and Hb, while insignificant differences detected for hetrophils, lymphocyte and H/L ratio, although, the values obtained were within the range reported by Sogunle et al (2006).…”

Effects of Cage and Floor Housing Systems on Fattening Performance, Oxidative Stress and Carcass Defects in Broiler Chicken

“…In another study [33] , performance and carcass quality of broiler chickens grown under chronic stress were found to be significantly impaired since the increase in synthesis of corticosterone impairing protein synthesis. Sogunle et al [7] referred that dressing percentage and breast weight were higher in the floor housing than cage housing while Bahreiny et al [29] and Lacin et al [9] did not find any difference between groups in carcass yield and parts. Antioxidant metabolism was found to be similar in terms of both groups.…”

“…From now on, reduced labor costs per square meter, increased uniformity, improved feed efficiency, more production per unit area, unnecessity of the use of litter, disappearance of dust and wet litter problems which are the major problems in floor system, minimum incidence of diseases such as enteritis and coccidiosis because of decreasing contact with manure, increase at annual production because of convenience of disinfection and cleaning operations, easy and stressfree transport to slaughterhouse have been detected as the advantages of use of cages for broiler breeding [4][5][6] . However, high initial investment cost, difficulty at poultry management and control of environmental factors at largescale flocks, deteriorating welfare, increased mortality rates related to leg and wing disorders of chickens, softening of bones, leg and wing fractures, perozis, defects of brisket and decline in quality of meat have been obtained as the disadvantages [3,[7][8][9][10] .Although cages have been banned in broilers and layers in EU, with more intensive production in a small land, the cage production seems quite attractive and has been quickly growing over the World, especially in Russia, the Middle East, several Asian countries, Africa and Eastern European countries in recent years [10] . However, there is the lack of information in cage reared broilers, especially in commercial flocks.…”

Growth Performance, Carcass Traits and Some Blood Parameters of Broiler Chicks as Affected by Housing System

“…The later authors added that chickens reared on floor had high (P≤0.05) percentages of gizzard than those raised in cages. As well as, Sogunle et al (2008) concluded that the floor system revealed higher (P≤0.05) values in the dressing percentage than the battery cages one.…”

“…Many researches conducted on productivity of broiler chickens in battery cages showed different results. Some studies cleared that floor reared broilers have significantly higher growth rates and heavier final body weights as compared to cage reared groups (Tolon and Yalcin, 1997 ;Fouad et al, 2008), while other authors found no significant difference in weight gain (Sogunle et al, 2008 ;Swain et al, 2002).…”