Research Article

Evaluation of the growth and slaughter value of the Ross 308 broiler chickens

Barbara Biesiada-Drzazga, Alina Janocha, Teresa Bombik, Anna Rojek, Urszula Brodzik

1. Acta Sci. Pol. Zootechnica, 10(3), 2011, 11‒20

Abstract. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the growth of broiler chickens and their slaughter value from 1 to 42 days of age. The research material consisted of the Ross 308 chickens. At 42 days of rearing, the chickens reached the mean final body weight of 2229.9 g. During successive weeks of rearing, the weight of all elements, i.e. giblets, inedible parts and offal, increased with an increasing body weight of birds. At the same time, their percentage in the body weight decreased considerably, and the dressing percentage increased.At 42 days of rearing, the eviscerated carcass weight averaged 1697 g, the percentage of muscles was 46.7%, that of skin and fat was 11.0% and the remainders of the carcass (bones) accounted for 42.5%. During the rearing period, considerable changes in the tissue composition of carcass and their uneven growth were found. Moreover, the effect of age and type of muscle on the chemical composition of muscles was determined.

Keywords: broiler chickens, growth, slaughter value