The effects of access to pasture on growth performance, behavioural patterns, some blood parameters and carcass yield of a slow-growing broiler genotype

Ipek A., Sozcu A.

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH, cilt.45, sa.1, ss.464-469, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 45 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2017
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/09712119.2016.1214136
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.464-469
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Pasture, slow growing, broiler, behaviour, carcass yield, MEAT QUALITY, OUTDOOR ACCESS, LYMPHOCYTE RATIO, STRESS, WELFARE, SYSTEM
  • Bursa Uludağ Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

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.