EFFECT OF STRAINS AND SEXING ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS YIELD OF BROILERS

We carried out this study to evaluate the productive performance and carcass yield of different strains and sexing of broilers. We evaluated 576 birds of Cobb, Ross, and Hubbard strains, arranged in male, female or mixed sexing, slaughtered at 45 days of age. We used a completely randomized design (CRD), in a 3 X 3 factorial (strain X sex), with four replicates per treatment. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion showed significant differences in the course of the phases evaluated; however, they were similar at the end of the study period. Males showed superior results compared to females and mixed sexing. Carcass yield showed no significant differences among strains and sexing of birds; however, in some prime cuts, Cobb presented the best results. Keywords: consumer market; genetics; poultry; technology