Growth Performance and Carcass Yield of Three Commercial Strains of Broiler Chickens raised in a Tropical Environment

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth performance and carcass yield of three commercial strains of broiler chickens namely Arbor Acre, Marshal and Ross reared in a tropical environment. 150 day old chicks per strain were brooded in separate brooding pens from day old to 2 weeks of age. At two weeks of age, each strain was separated into sexes and each sex replicated thrice and randomly placed into different pens where brooding continues for the next 2 weeks. Brooding and rearing to 8 weeks took place in the same pen. There were significant (p<0.05) strain differences with respect to body weight (1-8 weeks), average weight gain (2-3, 4-5, 6-7 weeks) and average feed intake (1-8 weeks). Arbor Acre had the most superior body weight at 8 weeks and weight gain at 6-7 weeks followed by Ross and Marshal in that order. However, the three strains of broiler chicken were similar in weight gain at 7-8 weeks and average feed conversion ratio at 8 weeks of age. Significant strain x sex interaction were observed in the body weight, weight gain and feed intake of the birds. Arbor Acre males were the most superior in body weight and weight gain compared to the males and females of Ross and Marshal. There was no significant effect of strain on the carcass yield of the birds. Based on its superior performance, Arbor Acre broiler is recommended to broiler farmers in Nigeria. Keywords: Bodyweight, broiler, carcass yield, feed conversion ratio, superiority