SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE CARCASS TRAITS OF MALE AND FEMALE ARBO ACRE BROILER CHICKEN

This study was carried out to scrutinize the carcass composition of male and female Arbo acre broiler. The experiment was carried out at the Animal breeding unit, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akugba -Akoko, Ondo state. A total number of 50 male and female arbo acre broilers were used for the study. The experimental birds were brood for four weeks and were reared in pen. At 12 weeks of age, males and females were picked at random, weighed and slaughtered, data were obtained on live weight, slaughter weight, plucked weight, edible carcass weight, inedible carcass weight and dressing yield. The female has higher values for liveweight (2130.00 ±6.1g), slaughter weight (2080.00±4.15g), plucked weight (2000.00±5.00g), edible carcass weight (1660.00± 3.15g), inedible carcass weight (420.00± 2.11g) than the male of (1950.00± 4.62g), (1890.00±3.33g), (1840.00± 3.11g), (1638.00±2.86g) and (412.00± 2.11g) for liveweight, slaughter weight, plucked weight, edible carcass weight and inedible carcass weight respectively. The male higher dressing yield (86.15±0.21%). The result shows that sex have significant effect (p < 0.05) on the primal cut out parts of the broiler chickens. The female had high values for head weight (110.00±2.54g), thigh weight (220.00±1.68g) and wings weight (160.00±3.00g) than the male of (90.00 ±2.11g), (170.00±2.01g) and (160.00±2.13g) for head weight, thigh weight and wings weight respectively. However, the breast muscle of male was significantly higher (190.00± 2.63g) than that of the female (190.00±2.33g). The result also shows that sex have significant effect (p< 0.05) on the internal organ of the broilers. The female had higher liver weight (150.00 ±3.11g), full gizzard weight (190.00 ±1.44g) and empty gizzard weight (170.00±1.68g) than the male of (100.00±2.11g), (160.00±2.33g) and (120.00±1.86g) for liver weight, full gizzard weight and empty gizzard weight respectively. Meanwhile the male has higher significant values for lungs weight (130.00 ±2.36g) and heart weight (18.00± 2.45g) than the female of (130.00 ±2.00g) and (10.00 ±1.56g) respectively. In conclusion there is a significant difference in the carcass composition of the male and female arbo acre broilers. It was recommended that male arbo acre should be reared for commercial purposes in poultry farms since they have high dressing yield, breast muscle, lungs and have faster growth rate.