Productive performance and carcass traits in commercial broiler hybrids in Yucatan, Mexico

The productive performance and caracass quality I of commercial hybrid chickens were studied in two experiments. The first included four hybrids in a random block design with 12 replications. In the second experiment, five hybrids were used in a completely random design with 5 replications. Five males and five females were randomly chosen and slaughtered at seven weeks of age in experiment 1 to evaluate carcass and breast yield as well as percentage of abdominal fat. In experiment 2, the carcass and fat were measured but in animals of the same weight (1850 50 g). The other variables observed were: live weight, feed consumption and feed conversion at seven weeks of age. In both experiments, differences were found (P < 0.05) between hybrids in live weight and feed consumption, but not in mortality or in percentage of abdominal fat. In the first experiment, differences were observed in carcass and breast yield between hybrids. While in the second carcass yield differed (P < 0.05) between males. The Peterson x Hubbard and Arbor Acres x Arbor Acres crosses had greater live weights (P < 0.05), although they were similar to the other crosses in feed conversion and carcass quality.