Comparative Study on Carcass Characteristics of Different Genetic Groups of Spent Hen in Bangladesh

Abstract: The carcass characteristics and meat yield studied using a total 20 number of cage reared spent hens of White Leghorn (WLH), White Rock (WR), Rhode Island Red (RIR) and Barred Plymouth Rock (BPR). There were a significant different (p<0.05) between breeds with live weight and dressed weight although it differ breed to breed. In case of dressed weight it is observed higher in RIR intermediate in BPR & WR and lower in WLH. Shank length, head weight, liver weight and gizzard weight were statistically non-significant between breeds. Shank length was statistically non-significant between breeds but shank weight was highly significant between them and highest in WR, intermediate in RIR & BPR but lowest in WLH. Viscera loss is higher in WLH then RIR and WR, BPR are in almost similar and the similar trained was found for feather loss and blood discharge. The result exhibits that the RIR carcass is the best, BPR and WR are in second position and the lowest is WLH in qualitative or quantitative measure not only for heavy breed but the total loss (viscera, feather and blood) is the lowest in comparison to the other three breeds. On the contrary, correlation between dressed carcass weight and abdominal fat was estimated and highly correlation was found in WLH followed by BPR, RIR and WR. If dressed carcass weight increase 1 (g) then abdominal fat increase by 0.2136 (g), 0.1297(g), 0.1819 (g) and 0.0591 (g) respectively for WLH, BPR, RIR and WR. Finally it can be concluded that the RIR carcass is the best in terms of quality and quantity. The WR & BPR are almost in similar holding second position and the lowest is WLH. Key words: Carcass characteristics, genetic group, spent he