D6: The broiler type fowl (breeding goal, use, breeds, traits, breeding methods)

Question 1

what is a broiler?

Answer 1

Broiler = any type of chicken that is bred & raised specifically for meat production

Question 2

Common weight of a broiler?

Answer 2

Approx 2kg

Question 3

common weight of a layer?

Answer 3

1.8kg

Question 4

when do most broilers go to slaugheter?

Answer 4

5 - 7 weeks of age

Although slower growing breeds reach slaughter weight approx. 14 weeks old

Question 5

Name some meat production traits of broilers

Answer 5

• Body weight & growth, Gain
• Feed efficiency
• Dressing percentage (65-70%): Breast, thigh, drumstick
• Meat quality (white: dark meat ratio)
• Mortality rates
• Vitality
• Behavior problems: e.g. Cannibalism (can be prevented by beak trimming & light programs), Feather eating.

Question 6

what are the breeding programmes for broilers?

Answer 6

• 3-way crossing:
  ◦ Maternal line = cross bred (synthetic line)
  ◦ Paternal line = purebred
• 4-way crossing:
  ◦ Both maternal and paternal lines are crossbred
  ◦ Most of the world’s commercial broilers are four-way crosses

Question 7

how is performance testing for broilers done?

Answer 7

Performance testing (broilers & layers) is performed by Random Sample tests of eggs.

◦ Random sampling is a part of the sampling technique in which each sample has an equal
probability of being chosen.
◦ A sample chosen randomly is meant to be an unbiased representation of the total population.
◦ If for some reasons, the sample does not represent the population, the variation is called a
sampling error.

Question 8

name some common broiler breeds

Answer 8

• Cornish crosses: X between Cornish chicken and Cornish male/white rock.
  ◦ White eggs
• Red broilers: 12 weeks to reach market size.
  ◦ Brown eggs

*meat hybrids:
parents:
maternal lines – WHITE PLYMOUTH ROCK-Type + paternal line – WHITE CORNISH-Type:
Arbor Acress, Ross, Hybro G, Lohmann, ISA Peterson,Hubbard, etc

Asian Breeds are dual purpose.

(other?) dual purpose breeds:
plymouth rock
sussex
rhode island
new hampshire
cochin