MJAS

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Dressed yield and edible parts of crossbred village (kampung) chickens as affected by restrictions in feed

Azlina Azma, I.A.¹ and Engku Azahan, E.A.²*

¹Strategic Livestock Research Centre, MARDI, GPO Box 12301, 50774 Kuala Lumpur,
²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor

Malaysian J. Anim. Sci. 2011 14(1): 57-60

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A study was carried out to determine the effect of feed restriction on carcass yields of crossbred kampung chickens at a slaughter age of 12 weeks. The two feed-restricted feeding regimes studied were provisions of commercial feeds amounting to 80% and 50%, respectively, of ad libitum feeding. The birds restricted to 50% of ad libitum feeding were reared in a fenced-in open area with surrounding oil palms and other vegetation, while the 80% feed restricted birds and the ad libitum-fed control group were housed in open sheds. Carcass yield and the yields of breast, thigh and drumstick parts as percentages of live weights were significantly higher in the control than in the feed-restricted groups. Between the two feed-restricted groups, differences in all carcass yield parameters were not significant. It is concluded that restricted feeding regimes at levels of 50 - 80% of ad libitum intake adversely affected the development of edible carcass parts of crossbred kampung chickens as a consequence of insufficient supply of nutrients.