Effect of dietary protease supplementation and sex on dressing percentage and body conformation in broilers

Abstract

This paper presents research results on the effect of protease on the dressing percentage of conventionally dressed carcass and body conformation in broiler chickens. Broiler diet was supplemented with 0.2% protease (group E-I) and 0.3% protease (group E-II), and protein content in the feed was reduced by 4% (E-I) and 6% (E-II) through a decrease in soybean meal content. Fast-growing Cobb 500 broilers were used for a 63-day fattening trial. Body conformation measurement included absolute carcass conformation measures (metatarsus length, keel length, breast depth, breast angle, thigh girth) and relative body conformation measures - conformation indices (body weight/metatarsus length, body weight/keel length, body weight/breast depth, body weight/thigh girth). Results showed a significant effect of sex on the dressing percentage of conventionally dressed carcass and all body conformation measures, whereas diet had a significant effect on the dressing percentage of conventionally dressed carcass and breast angle values.

Keywords

• broilers
• protease
• dressing percentage
• body conformation