RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIVE WEIGHT, INTERNAL ORGANS, AND BODY PART WEIGHTS OF BROILER CHICKENS

Author:
T.C. Iwuji, G.C. Iheanacho, M.C. Ogamba, O.A Odunfa

Doi: 10.26480/mahj.02.2022.64.66

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

The study was conducted to ascertain the relationship in terms of percentage weights of internal organs and body parts of Ross 308 broiler birds to their live weights. A total of eighteen (18) broiler birds were used for the experiment which lasted for a total of eight (8) weeks. The birds were fed commercial diets at both starter and finisher phase and reared on deep litter following standard procedures. The live weights of the birds were measured using an electronic scale and following slaughter procedures. Carcass weight, internal organ weights and body parts weights were measured and recorded for computing the percentage weights of the internal organs and parts to the live weights of the birds. Internal organs evaluated were heart, lungs, gizzard, liver, spleen and intestine while the body parts were carcass, head, neck, wings, breast muscle, thighs and shanks. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The weights of the internal organs and body parts of the birds were presented as percentages of the live weights. Percentage average weight of internal organs to live weight shows that the gizzard, liver and intestine constituted more than the heart, lungs and spleen but the percentage weight range shows that they are less regulated than the heart, lungs and spleen. Percentage average weight of body parts of the broiler birds to live weight were more in carcass, breast muscle and thighs than in the head, neck, wings and shanks.

Pages 64-66
Year 2022
Issue 2
Volume 2