The effects of access to pasture on growth performance, behavioural patterns, some blood parameters and carcass yield of a slow-growing broiler genotype
Date
2016-07-09
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of access to a pasture on growth performance, behavioural patterns, some blood parameters and carcass yield of a slow-growing broiler genotype. A total of 210 one-day-old male chicks of Hubbard ISA Red JA were used in the experiment. At the 84th day, live weight was determined to be lower in the outdoor rearing system (P < .01). Better feed conversion ratio was found in the indoor rearing system (P < .01). The behaviour of the broilers was compared by observing the behaviour of three randomly selected marked birds on video tape. Eating, drinking, preening, spot pecking, feather pecking, walking-standing and resting-lying were monitored. Broilers from the outdoor rearing system group showed more preening, drinking, spot pecking, walk-stand and feather pecking behaviours as a result of increasing activity. Ratio of breast and thigh (carcass weight%) was higher, whereas abdominal fat was lower in the outdoor group. As a result of this study, access to a pasture improved the behaviours of broilers.
Description
Keywords
Agriculture, Behaviour, Carcass yield, Pasture, Slow growing, Broiler, Meat quality, Outdoor access, Lymphocyte ratio, Stress, Welfare, System
Citation
İpek, A. ve Sözcü, A. (2017). ''The effects of access to pasture on growth performance, behavioural patterns, some blood parameters and carcass yield of a slow-growing broiler genotype''. Journal of Applied Animal Research, 45(1), 464-469.