Poultry Studies 2020, Vol 17, Num, 2     (Pages: 056-062)

Determination of Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics of ATAK-S Male Chicks in Different Raising Systems

Beyhan Yeter 1 ,Ökkeş Akyar 1

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam, 46050 Kahramanmaras, Turkey DOI : 10.34233/jpr.804733 - In this study, meat production performance of male chicks of the ATAK-S genotype, which is an egg-yielding line, were examined in both indoor and free range raising systems. The study was carried out at the Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University (KSU), Animal Production Application and Research Centre for 12 weeks. Each treatment was represented by 3 replications containing of 28 male chicks (84 male chicks per treatment). During the indoor treatment, the chicks were raised in floor pens in a conventional house (3.7 birds/m2). In the free-range treatment, the chickens were housed in a similar indoor house (3.7 birds/m2); in addition, they also had a free-range clover paddock (0.9 birds/m2). All birds were provided with the same diets as ad-libitum. Results showed that the thigh rate of the chickens in the free-range treatment were higher than that of the chickens in the indoor floor treatments, but the neck rate of the chickens in the free-range treatment were lower than that of the chickens in the indoor floor treatments. There was no significant effect of the free-range raising system on live weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, survival rate, eviscerated carcass, breast, thighs, wings, back rates, edible giblets, testes weight, rectal temperature and tonic immobility. Keywords : ATAK-S male chicks Raising systems Growth performance Carcass characteristics Welfare