Impact of Partial Uropygialection at Different Ages on Carcass Criteria and Some Blood Parameters for Broilers

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of partial uropygialectomy (PU) on carcass criteria and some blood parameters of broilers (ross-308). Two hundred, day-old, broilers were randomly distributed into five experimental groups of 40 chicks in four replicates, 10 chicks each. First group used as control (without PU) while, PU was applied on chicks in the 2 nd (T1), 3 rd (T2), 4 th (T3) and 5 th (T4) groups at 14, 17, 21 and 24 days of age, respectively. On the last day of the experiment carcass characteristics and some blood parameters were studied. Results indicated that the partial uropygialectomy did not have significant effects on percentages of dressed carcass, breast, thigh, drumsticks, back, wings and spleen. The highest abdominal fat% (P<0.05) was recorded for T1 group. Chemical composition of meat was not significantly affected by PU at different ages. Studied blood parameters were not significantly affected by PU, except plasma albumin level which significantly (P<0.05) increased in T3, and cholesterol level which was significantly higher in T4 compared with other groups. From the results of this study, it could be concluded that partial uropygialectomy at 14 days of age for broiler chickens achieved the highest performance and carcass traits