Effect of Sex on some Growth Criteria and carcass Yield in Cobb Broiler strain

Abstract

The effects of sex on some growth criteria in Cobb broiler strain were studied. A tottal of two hundred and sixty-four chicks comprising one hundred and thirty-fuor males and one hundred and thirty females were used.  Analyses of the results showed ni significant (P>0.05) sex variation in the all growth criteria: body weight, body length, keel length, drumstick length, shank length and shank thickness at 3 and 6 weeks of age.  The males were however, significantly heavier than the females at 9 and 12 weeks of age: the difference being 114.94g at 99 weeks and 186.67g at 12 weeks of age. The eviscerated weight of the female expressed in percentage of live weight was marginally higher than that of males (63.76% and 62.50% respectively).The portion of breast in female broilers was also higher than male broilers. IT could be inferred from this study that females had less inedible parts (blood, intestine and feathers) than males.