Evaluation of growth traits in three strains of broiler chicken

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the growth performance of Marshall, Cobb and Arbor acre strains of broiler chicken. A total number of three hundred (300) day-old broiler chicks of Arbor acre, Cobb and Marshall strains were raised under the same management condition. Data was obtained on the growth performance and analyzed. Cobb strain had the highest weight of 175.78 ± 2.51g at 2 weeks of age while Arbor acre and Marshall strain had similar (p>0.05) body weight at that age. Marshall had the highest body weight of 1804.37± 50.47g followed by Cobb with a weight of 1760.16 ±15.38g) while Arbor acre had the least body weight of 1683.43 ± 25.06g at 8weeks. Cobb strain had the highest body length (32.33 ± 0.10cm) at 8 weeks. All the strain studied had similar breast girth at 4 weeks. However, Marshall strain had the highest breast girth followed by Arbor acre while Cobb strain had the least breast girth at maturity. Marshall strain and Arbor acre had similar thigh lengths while the least thigh length was recorded for the Cobb strain. The effect of sex was significant (p<0.05) on all the growth parameters at 8weeks as male broilers had higher body measurements than their female counterparts. In conclusion, Marshall strain had better growth performance than Arbor acre and Cobb strain of broiler chicken.

Performance of three strains of broiler chickens fed with straight diet

“…This suggests that the diet did not alter any of the organ part in all the treatment groups. In contrast to the present study, the internal organs of Marshall, Arbor Acre and Cobb broilers as reported by Fadare et al (2020) showed significant (P<0.05) broiler strain effect on the weights of lung, liver, full gizzard, empty gizzard. The highest weight and relative percentage of lung was found in Marshall strain while Cobb and Arbor acre strains had similar lung weight and relative percentage.…”

“…The result obtained in this work are in line with the report of Fadare et al (2020) who discovered that Marshall strain had the highest pre-slaughter weight (2215.00±18.50g) followed by cobb (2048.88 ± 10.30 g) while the least pre-slaughter weight was recorded in Arbor acre strain (1937.50 ± 12.40 g). Marshall strain also had the highest slaughter weight of 2130.00±15.25g while the least value of 1937.50±12.40g were recorded in Arbor acre strain.…”

“…The significant difference (P<0.05) in final weight of Arbor acre to both Ross and Cobb disagreed with the report of Olawumi et al (2012a) who found no significant effect on body weight at 5 and 7 weeks of age, but agreed with those of Enaiat et al (2010) and Razuki et al (2011), who obtained significant strain differences in live weight of broiler chicken slaughtered for carcass at 8-12 weeks. The result of this work is in consonance with results of Fadare et al (2020) who got the highest weight gained for Cobb compared to other strains used in their study.…”