Study on Carcass Characteristics of Two Improved Chicken Breeds Reared Under Intensive Management System in Tanzania
F. S. Guni *
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute - Uyole, P.O. Box 6191, Mbeya, Tanzania.
S. H. Mbaga
Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania.
A. M. Katule
Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3004, Morogoro, Tanzania.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The effect of breed on the carcass characteristic of two dual-purpose chickens reared under the intensive management system was studied. A total of 40 birds from Sasso and Kuroiler breeds (20 per breed) were randomly taken as a representative sample and were slaughtered and carcass dissected manually. The parameters for all breeds included bodyweight at slaughter (BWs), carcass weight (CW), dressing percentage (DP %), parts yield including breast, drumsticks, thighs, wings, back and neck. With regard to all parameters collected, the two breeds were found to be significantly (P<0.05) different for all carcass characteristics. The BWs, CW and all carcass parts weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher for Sasso than Kuroiler. In addition, Sasso had higher proportions of breast, back and wings than Kuroiler but the two breeds were comparable on thighs, drumsticks and neck. There were significant and positive phenotypic correlations between BWs and all carcass traits studied.
Keywords: Carcass traits, correlation, Kuroiler bird, Sasso bird