Vol. 3, Issue 3, Part A (2018)

Author(s): Kehinde Akinsola and Simeon Olawumi

Abstract: The aim of the present investigation was to rank the performance of three exotic strains of commercial broilers as influenced by feed restriction in terms of carcass and meat quality characteristics. It is believed that breeds of animals differ in their response to whatever treatment applied. The strains of broiler birds under investigation are Arbor Acre, Hubbard and Marshall. Analyzed results showed that there was no significant (p>0.05) strain by feed restriction interaction effect on live weight and slaughter weight of broiler chickens. However, there was significant (p<0.01) strain by feed restriction interaction effect on dressed, eviscerated, back and breast weight. This implies that the expression of these traits depended on strain by treatment interaction. Furthermore, the result revealed that there was no significant (p>0.05) strain by feed restriction interaction effect on aroma, colour, tenderness, juiciness and saltiness. This implies that the expression of these traits as affected by strain and treatment is mutually exclusive and not by joint action. But, there was significant (p<0.01) strain by feed restriction interaction effect on flavor and meat texture. Arbor Acre and second week feed restriction recorded superior mean values in most cases of interaction effect, and therefore could be proposed to farmers for increased poultry meat production and profit.