R. Bras. Zootec.01/Apr/2003;32(2):344-52.
Estimation of the carcasses anatomical composition of broiler from diet quality and carcass weight
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982003000200013
An experiment was carried out to estimate the relations between broiler carcass weight and thighs+drumsticks, breast+bone+skin, and breast meat by the linear model. Eight hundred and sixty and four male poultry of Arbor Acres strain, from 22 to 42 days of age, were assigned to a completely randomized design in 3x4factorial scheme. Corn and soybean meal based diets were prepared to contain 2900 kcal ME and 15.43; 17.26; 19.60; and 22.60% CP; 3,100 kcal ME and 16.49; 18.45; 20.95; and 24.22%CP; and 3300 kcal ME and 17.55; 19.64; 22.30; and 25.78% CP, resulting in twelve treatments. Each treatment was constituted of four replicates of 18 birds. High correlations were observed between live weight at 42 days old and carcass weight (r = 0.958), carcass weight and thighs+drumsticks (r = 0.991), breast+bone+skin (r = 0.965) and deboned breast meat weight (r = 0.950). The lipid percentage was negatively correlated to the moisture percentage (r = -0.880). The linear equation is recommended to estimate carcass anatomical components in broiler chickens.
Keywords: breast meat; broiler; carcass weight; prediction equation