COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LIVE WEIGHTS AND CARCASS TRAITS OF COBB, ROSS 308 AND MARSHAL BROILER STRAINS REARED IN GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4107Mots-clés :
Broiler, Guinea Savannah, Strain, Live weight, Carcass TraitsRésumé
A 49-day experiment was designed to compare the growth and body conformation traits of three broiler chicken strains (Marshal, Ross 308 and Cobb) reared in the guinea savannah region of Nigeria. One hundred and fifty (150) day-old chicks of the three strains were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Each strain was replicated five times with ten birds per replicate. The birds were fed commercial broiler starter diet during the first four weeks and thereafter commercial broiler finisher diet for three weeks. Feed and water were given ad libitum. The results showed that Cobb and Ross308 strain had comparable body weights which were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of Marshal broiler from three weeks of age to seven weeks of age The shank length, thigh length and back length did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the three boiler strains. In addition, there was no significant differences (P>0.05) in the dressed weight, drumstick, wing, breast and thigh weight of the three broiler strains. It could be concluded from this study that Cobb and Ross308 broiler chicken strains showed comparable live weights which were better than Marshal broiler chicken in the guinea savannah region of Nigeria. Since Cobb, Ross308 and Marshal broiler strains did not differ in dressed weight, It is therefore recommended that the broiler strains could be reared in guinea savannah region of Nigeria.