| heal.abstract |
Four hundred and twenty two day old unsexed chickens of the breed Cobb 500 were split into 3 groups (with 4 replicate of 35 birds each) and fattened for 81 days according to the Community organic livestock legislation. The effects of 50 and 75% replacement of soybean expeller by chickpeas were studied on performance (growth, feed consumption, feed conversion, mortality) and carcass traits. Body weight was significantly higher (p < 0.001) for control birds (3,712 vs. 3,266 and 3,199 g for those on 50 and 75% soybean replacement, respectively). However, the three treatments did not differ significantly in feed conversion ratio, due to the higher (p < 0.05) feed intake of the control birds (10,714 vs. 9,495 and 9,109 g, respectively). Weight of carcass, breast and legs was significantly higher for the control birds (p < 0.05), whereas abdominal fat did not differ significantly between treatments. Proportions (as percentage of live weight at slaughter) of legs, wings and abdominal fat did not differ (p > 0.400), whereas proportion of breast was higher in control birds, and this difference nearly reached significance (p = 0.05). Results suggest that the gradual substitution of up to 75% of chickpeas for soybean in the organic fattening of broilers until 81 days of age leads to feed conversion ratio and proportions of carcass parts similar to those of control birds, although carcasses and carcass parts were less heavy. © Verlag Eugen Ulmer. |
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