Effect of strain, sex, and age on live body weight and relative weights of visceral organs in broiler Chickens

The study examined the effect of age, strain, and gender on chickens' body weight, carcass yield, and relative weight of some visceral organs. A total of 224 day-old broiler chickens from two strains (Arian and Ross 308) were randomly allocated into 56 wire cages. Each cage contained 4 broilers (two males and two females), resulting in 28 replicate cages for each broiler strain. On four specific days of the rearing period (days 10, 24, 32, and 42), 12±2 male and 12±2 female chickens from each broiler strain were randomly selected, weighed, and then slaughtered. Then carcass yield, visceral organ weights, and the weight of different segments of the alimentary tract were determined on each slaughter day after evisceration. The findings indicated that females in both strains had a higher liver relative weight compared to males. The Bursa in the Ross 308 was found to be significantly heavier compared to Arian only on 32-day-old broiler chickens. Additionally, in 24-day-old chickens of the Ross strain, the weight of the bursa was heavier than that in 10-day-old chickens from the same strain (P<0.05), suggesting a stronger immune system development of Ross 308 chickens during this age interval. The gizzard and jejunum relative weights were significantly higher in Arian strain than those of the Ross 308 strain (P<0.05). It may be concluded that the lower body weights of the Arian chickens compared to Ross 308 broilers were caused by limiting factors other than the disproportionate morphometric growth of the digestive tract at macroscopic level.

Effect of strain, sex, and age on live body weight and relative weights of visceral organs in broiler Chickens Keywords:

Arian , Breeding , Carcass , Ross 308 , Small intestine