Livestock Studies 2011, Vol 51, Num, 1     (Pages: 021-030)

The effects of sex, age and early protein restriction on some visceral organs, meat chemical composition and foot lesions in broilers chickens

Mustafa UĞURLU 1 ,Fatih ATASOY 2 ,Akın YAKAN 3 ,Aytaç AKÇAY 4

1 Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Samsun
2 Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Zootekni Anabilim Dalı, Ankara
3 Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Zootekni Anabilim Dalı. Hatay
4 Erciyes Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Biyometri Anabilim Dalı, Kayseri
- This research was conducted to determine the effect of sex separate rearing of broiler chicken and dietary protein restriction in two different slaughter age on visceral organs, meat protein, fat, dry matter, ash and foot problems. One-day old, 360 male and female chicks were divided to control (K), experiment 1 (D1) and experiment 2 (D2) groups. All groups were feed on 23.10 % crude protein dietary between 1-10th days of age. The protein percentage of the crude protein for the K, D1, D2 groups were 21.80 %, 20.20 % and 18.40 % crude protein between 11-30th days of age respectively. Also, chickens fed with % 18.40 crude protein from 32 to 47 days of age. As for metabolic energy levels were 3083.69 kcal/kg between 1-10th days of age. 11-30th days of age for the K, D1, D2 groups were 3095.66; 3117.80 and 3120.55 kcal/kg respectively. All groups metabolic energy levels were 3120.55 kcal /kg between 32-47th days of age. All chickens were slaughtered at 40 and 47 days of age.

Gizzard (P<0.01), heart (P<0.001) and liver rate (P<0.001) were significant determinate for slaughter age. Hearth rate was significant determinate while liver rate and gizzard rate were not significant determinate for sex groups.

In respect to the chemical composition of meat, fatty rate means were not significant to treatment and slaughter groups (P>0.05) and those of were found to significant for sex groups (P<0.05). Ash rate was significant to treatment and slaughter age groups while that of was not found to significant for sex groups. Protein and dry matter rate were not significant for slaughter age and sex groups while between treatment groups was significant (P<0.05; P<0.001). In respect of the high percentage of the foot lesions appered in the groups fed with high protein diet.

In conclusion, in respect to visceral organs and the chemical composition of meat can recommend to 40 days slaughter age and 20% crude protein for experimental groups. Keywords : Broiler, meat chemical composition, restricted protein, visceral organs