Genotype × Sex Interaction Effects on Carcass Traits of Three Strains of Commercial Broiler Chickens

The aim of this study was to rank commercial broiler chicken breeds vis-à-vis their sexes based on their carcass evaluation at 56days of age. The strains were Marshall, Arbor Acre and Hubbard, and the traits considered were live weight, dressing weight and percent, eviscerated weight, carcass weight and percent, breast muscle, back muscle, thigh, drumstick, head, neck, wing and leg weights. Other traits measured were wing and leg lengths, edible giblets and abdominal fat. There was highly significant (P < 0.01) strain x sex interaction effects on all the traits evaluated with the exception of leg length, liver, gizzard and abdominal fat. Males and females of Marshall broilers recorded superior and higher (P < 0.01) mean values in almost all the traits than the sexes of the other two strains. The obtained results indicate that most carcass traits are breed and sex dependent. In addition, the result showed that both sexes of Marshall broilers produced greater chicken proportions than Arbor Acre and Hubbard broilers. Therefore, important interventions to increase animal proteins consumption in this country, both sexes of Marshall broilers could be raised, and also for maximum profit for stockholders and processing industries.