Morphological and carcass traits of three chicken genotypes under free-range, semiintensive, and intensive housing systems

Abstract

Introduction Genetic improvement in rural poultry can be accomplished by selection or crossbreeding while selection procedures are long-term but definite. Crossbreeding of indigenous germplasm with exotic breeds gives an advantage for artificial selection for performance of exotic breeds and natural selection for resistance and acclimatization of indigenous breeds for the local environment [1]. Crossbreeding results in the development of birds that have better growth, morphometric, and carcass characteristics and reproductive traits, hence reducing the total cost of production [2,3]. Birds under free-range housing systems have access to enriched environments that promote behavioral activities, i.e. scratching and foraging, and improve the overall welfare of the birds. Environmental enrichment can stimulate and encourage explorative behaviors and create a series of behavioral opportunities [4]. The benefits of such enrichments are numerous and give an opportunity to birds for more even distribution, which reduces aggression, stress, and fear response [5]. Such types of housing systems coupled with higher welfare standards can produced a better quality of poultry meat that is more suitable for consumer preferences in Europe, America, and Asia [4,6]. Meat quality attributes of organic and free-range housed chickens are considered more valued as far as quality is concerned. There are numerous factors that affect the quality of meat, such as genotype, nutrition, housing system, slaughter age, and motor activity [7-9]. Indigenous chicken breeds are generally nominated for free-range housing systems because of their hardy nature and better acclimatization in extreme weather conditions. Moreover, some studies reported that under intensive housing systems birds are unable to exploit their maximum genetic potential and their growth is limited because of deficient nutrition [10,11].

Morphometric measurements and carcass characteristics of Black Australorp, Naked Neck, and Rhode Island Red crossbreds under alternative production systems

“…Similar findings have been reported by Stadig et al (2016) who observed lighter body weight of slow growing broilers in a free range system. Contrary findings have been reported by Ahmad et al (2019) who observed improved morphometric traits due to more exercise in free range and semi intensive systems. As far as genotypes are concerned, BR and RB genotypes showed higher body weight, keel length, drumstick length and circumference, wingspread and shank length compared with RR and BB genotypes on an overall basis.…”

“…Improved morphometric traits from RB and BR genotypes might be due to the higher body weight of these breeds as improved body measurements are associated with higher body weights. Similar findings have been reported by Ahmad et al (2019) who observed improvement in body weight and morphometric traits after crossbreeding between Rhode Island Red, Black Australorp and Naked Neck chickens. Fadare (2014) observed differences in morphological traits in the normal feathered, naked neck and frizzled feathered chickens when crossed with Giri-Raja breed.Dissimilarities in morphometric traits among different varieties of Pakistani Aseel breed have also been elaborated by Qureshi et al (2018).…”

“…In the previous study, body weight of Naked Neck was improved by crossing with Black Australorp and Rhode Island Red (Ahmad et al, 2019). Results of the present study revealed that body weight further increased in the second generation after crossing in a reciprocal way.…”

“…The present study was a continuation of the previous research, in which the performance of progeny (F1) was taken from Rhode Island Red × Naked Neck (RNN) and Black Australorp × Naked Neck (BNN) was evaluated (Ahmad et al, 2019). In the present study, the second generation (F2) of these crossbreds (BNN and RNN) were evaluated in reciprocal crosses.…”

“…Selection and crossbreeding are the most accurate and adapted methods to get genetically superior chickens in successive generations ( Bungsrisawat et al, 2018). These practices may result in changes in morphometric and carcass traits (Bungsrisawat et al, 2018;Ahmad et al, 2019). For example, Keel bone structure is significantly influenced by genetic background and husbandry systems (Eusemann et al, 2020).…”