Performance and Carcass Ratio of Large-type Female Broiler at Different Stocking Densities

This work was carried out to investigate performance and carcass yield of large-type broilers at different stocking densities. Treatments were T1 (9.1 birds/㎡), T2 (10.3 birds/㎡) and T3 (11.5 birds/㎡) by the stocking density. Four hundred eight 1-day-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks were used for six weeks (starter, 0~1 wks; earlier, 1~3 wks; finisher, 3~6 wks) and divided into 3 treatments (4 replications/treatment, 30, 34 or 38 birds/replication). Research indexes were rearing viability ratio, body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, production efficiency factor and carcass ratio. Rearing viability ratio (%) was 89% or more for all treatments and there was no significant difference on weekly rearing viability ratio (%). Body weight of T2 was the greatest and that of T3 was the lowest at 1 weeks old (P less than 0.05). Body weight gain of T2 was the greatest and that of T3 was the lowest at 0~1 weeks old (P less than 0.05). However, body weight gain of T3 was the greatest and that of T1 was the lowest at 1~2 weeks old (P less than 0.05). Body weight gain of T2 was the greatest as 3,031 g among treatments at 0~6 weeks old (P less than 0.05). Feed intakes of T1, T2 and T3 were 1,417 g, 1,265 g and 1,355 g, respectively, and that of T1 was the greatest among treatments (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference on body weight, body weight gain and feed intake. Feed conversion ratio of T1 was the greatest among treatments at 1~2 wks, 3~4 wks and 0~6 wks old (P less than 0.05). Production efficiency factors of T1, T2 and T3 were 363.5, 388.3 and 358.3, respectively, and there was no significant difference among treatments. Wing meat ratio of T1 was the higher compared to other treatments at the age of 4 wk (P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference on carcass ratio and partial meat ratio among treatments. Neck meat ratio of T2 was the lowest among treatments (P less than 0.05). This result may provide the standard data of different stocking densities for large-type broiler and the further research is needed.