http://www.jstage.jst.go.

jp/browse/jpsa
doi:+*.,+.+/jpsa.**3*,+
Copyright ῍ ,*+*, Japan Poultry Science Association.

Abdullah Y. Abdullah, Nafez A. Al-Beitawi, Murad M.S. Rjoup,

Rasha I. Qudsieh and Majdi A. A. Ishmais
Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

A total of 2.* male and female birds of Lohman, Hubbard JV, Hubbard classic, and Ross strains were reared from day
+ to .- to evaluate growth performance, carcass and meat quality traits as influenced by strain, gender, and age at slaughter.
All birds were randomly distributed into three pens (-/ chicks/pen) for each straingender group. At 2, ,,, -0, and .- days
of age, / birds from each pen were randomly selected and slaughtered. Results showed that Hubbard classic birds had higher
(P*.*/) final body weight, overall average daily gain, and most e$cient overall feed conversion ratio. Males had higher (P
*.*/) overall body weight, average daily gain, and feed intake when compared to females. Female birds had higher (P
*.*/) breast cut percentage at 2, ,,, and -0 days, and lower leg cut percentage at ,, and -0 days compared to males.
Genotype influenced (P*.*/) abdominal fat percentage where Lohman strain had the highest percentage at all slaughter
ages. Cooking loss percentage was higher (P*.*/,.) for males than females and shear force values were influenced (P
*.*/) by strain where meat from Ross was tougher than meat from any other strain, yet generally meat from all strains was
considered to be tender. In conclusion, Hubbard classic birds are the most economic of the four strains investigated in this
study by having higher growth performance than the other strains tested. However, dressing percentage and meat quality
parameters were comparable among the four strains investigated.

Key words: broiler strains, carcass quality, growth performance, meat quality
J. Poult. Sci., .1: +-ῌ,+, ,*+*
῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎῎

plane of nutrition, and post-slaughter processing (Smith

Introduction
The poultry industry in Jordan is going through
changes in products di#erentiation. These changes are
resulting from changes in consumers’ demands. Consum-
ers are moving from the consumption of whole-chicken to
the consumption of cuts and further-processed broiler
products (Smith and Acton, ,**+). The increase in
further processing has highlighted more concern on the
quality and control of factors influencing broiler growth
performance, carcass cuts, and meat quality. The success
of poultry industry can be attributed in part to significant
improvements in growth and feed e$ciency (Smith and
Acton, ,**+). Poultry meat production covers 23./ῌ of
Jordanian market demand, the rest is imported. Poultry
meat production represents 3+.+ῌ of total meat produc-
tion in Jordan according to the statistics of Ministry of
Agriculture (,**0). Several factors influence the per-
formance of broiler, carcass cuts, and meat quality.
Among these factors are strains, sex, age at slaughter,
Received: March +/, ,**3, Accepted: September +/, ,**3
Released Online Advance Publication: December +*, ,**3
Correspondence: Dr. A.Y. Abdullah, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan
University of Science and Technology, P.O. BOX -*-*, Irbid ,,++*,
Jordan. (E-mail: abdullah@just.edu.jo)
and Acton, ,**+). Genetic selection based on important
economic traits such as growth rate, body size, edible meat
yield, and feed conversion ratio has resulted in changes in
commercial poultry meat industry (Anthony, +332; Pol-
lock, +333). As a result, the age to reach market weight,
the amount of feed necessary to produce a kilogram of
meat, and the age at which slaughter occurs have been
reduced (Gous, +320). There is also an increased pressure
on improving breast meat yield and muscle mass in re-
sponse to a shift in the market from whole birds to further
processed products and an increasing demand for white
meat by consumers (Ewart, +33-). Commercial broiler
strains have never been investigated in Jordan according
to commercial rearing practices, therefore, the aims of this
study came to investigate the influence of commercial
strains available in Jordan, age at slaughter, and sex of
birds on growth performance, feed conversion ratio, car-
cass cuts, and meat quality of broilers.
Materials and Methods
An experiment with . strains, separated in males and
females, and . slaughter ages was performed to investigate
the e#ects of genetic strain, gender, and age at slaughter
on growth performance, carcass cuts, and meat quality
 14 J. Poult. Sci., .1 (+)
traits of broiler breast muscles. A total of 2.* birds were
used in this experiment. The commercial strains used
were Lohman (Lh), Hubbard JV (HJV), Hubbard classic
(Hcl), and Ross (Rs). At hatch, chicks were sexed and
randomly distributed into three pens (-/ chicks/pen) for
each straingender group (total of ,. pens) and raised by
standard commercial practices in a semi-closed house.
Broilers were fed commercial corn-soybean meal diet that
contained levels of nutrients recommended by the Nation-
al Research Council (+33.). Birds were provided with ,-
h light, and feed and water were o#ered ad libitum for the
duration of experimental period (., days). The formu-
lated ration contained ,-ῌ protein and ,3.+.*1/ kcal
ME/kg for starter (+ῌ,2 days) and +2ῌ protein and -+/*
kcal ME/kg for finisher (,3ῌ., days). Ingredients of the
starter ration were yellow corn /3.,/ῌ, soybean -*ῌ,
concentrate 1ῌ, vegetable oil *.+*ῌ, dicalcium phos-
phate +ῌ, limestone +./ῌ, mineral and vitamin additives
*.3*ῌ, and salt *.,/ῌ. The finisher diet was composed of
yellow corn 0/ῌ, soybean ,-ῌ, concentrate /.1/ῌ, veg-
etable oil -./ῌ, dicalcium phosphate *.1/ῌ, limestone
+ῌ, mineral and vitamin additives *.1/ῌ, and salt *.,/ῌ.
Feed consumption and body weight were recorded weekly
to evaluate growth performance, feed intake and feed
conversion ratio of birds. At 2, ,,, -0 and .- days of age,
a representative sample (/ birds/pen) were randomly
selected from each of the ,. pens and slaughtered follow-
ing normal procedure described by Merkley et al. (+32*).
Birds were fasted . h prior to slaughter, then birds were
weighed to record fasted live weight, and killed by bleed-
ing for 3* sec from a single cut that severed the carotid
artery and jugular vein. After bleeding, birds were
scalded at /. for +,* sec, defeathered in a rotary drum
picker for .* sec, and manually eviscerated. The sex of
each bird was confirmed by visual examination of the
gonads during evisceration. After evisceration, carcasses
were chilled for 0 h at /, then carcass weight, dressing
percentage and cuts percentages were measured and
recorded at each slaughter age. At .- days of age, meat
quality measurements were performed on Major Pec-
toralis muscle of broiler breast. Right and left pectoralis
major muscles were harvested from each carcass after
being chilled according to the procedure described by
Hamm (+32+). Both muscles were removed by severing
the humeral-scapular joint and pulling downward to strip
the meat from the breast. After excision, muscles from
the left side were used for ultimate pH and water holding
capacity evaluation. Muscles from the right side were
weighed, placed in plastic bags and cooked at 2/ for ,/
min (Liu et al., ,**.). Then, muscles were dried, allowed
to cool at room temperature, and re-weighed to determine
cooking loss. After that, 0 cores from cooked muscles
were used to evaluate tenderness using Warner-Bratzler
shear blade with the triangular slot cutting edge mounted
on Salter model ,-/ (Warner-Bratzler meat shear, G-R
Electric Manufacturing Co., Kansas, USA). The pH
values were determined in duplicate samples using the
iodoacetate method as described by Jeacocke (+311) and
Sams and Janky (+320). One to +./ g of raw meat were
put into plastic test tube containing +* ml of neutralized /
mM iodoacetate reagent and +/* mM KCl, and homo-
genized using homogenizer (Ultra-Turrax T2, IKA
Labortechnik, Janke & Kunkal GmbH & Co., Germany).
The ultimate pH values of the homogenate were measured
using a pH meter (pH Spear, Large screen, waterproof
pH/temperature Tester, Double injection, model -/0-.ῌ
.*, Eurotech Instruments, Malaysia). The water binding
properties of the pectoralis major muscles were estimated
by measuring the amount of water released from the
muscle protein by the application of force (expressible
juice) and by measuring the ability of muscle protein to
retain water present in excess and under the influence of
internal force (water holding capacity). Water holding
capacity was measured using the method described by
Grau and Hamm (+3/-) and modified by Sañudo et al.
(+320), using samples of approximately / g raw meat
(initial weight). Each sample was cut into small pieces.
Then the sample meat pieces were covered with two filter
papers (qualitative, +2/mm f circles, fine crystalline re-
tention, Whatmam International Ltd, England) and two
thin plates of quartz material then pressed with weight of
,/** g for / min. The meat samples were then removed
from the filter paper and their weight was recorded (final
weight). Water holding capacity was reported as the
weight lost during sample pressing divided by initial
sample weight and expressed as a percentage.
Chemical composition of carcass meat was analyzed
according to the procedures described by AOAC (+33*).
Meat was analyzed for dry matter (+*/ in air-forced
oven for ,. h), crude protein (Kjeldahl procedure), ether
extract (Soxtec procedure), and ash (//* in furnace for
0 h).
Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design
using General Linear Model procedure of SAS (SAS
Institute, +33*). Main e#ects were strain and gender at
each slaughter age. Means were considered to be di#erent
at the significancy level of P*.*/.
Results and Discussion
Growth Performance, Weight Gain, and Feed Conversion
Ratio
Changes in live body weight from day 1 to ., are
presented in Figure +. At 1 days of age, body weight dif-
fered (P*.*/) among strains. Hubbard classic birds
(Hcl) recorded heavier body weight (+/* g/chick) com-
pared to Ross (Rs) (+./ g/chick), Hubbard JV (+-2 g/
chick), and Lohman (Lh) (+-2 g/chick). From +. to ,+
days of age, Hcl birds were heavier (P*.**+) compared
to Lh, HJV or Rs birds. Males of all strains exhibited
heavier (P*.*/) body weights compared to females
from +. to ., days of age, except at ,+ days of age where
both males and females had comparable body weights.
Final weight di#ered (P*.***+) among strains. Birds of
Hubbard classic strain were the heaviest (,*-2 g) at .,
 Abdullah et al.: Broilers Growth Performance and Carcass Quality
Fig. +. Weekly average live body weight (g) of the
strains for males and females during the rearing period
(1ῌ., days).
days of age compared to Lohman (+3++ g), Ross (+2*0 g)
and Hubbard JV (+0,+ g) strains. Chicken growth is well
described as a sigmoid curve with an initial exponential
development phase, an intermediate or transitory phase,
and a final phase of inhibited growth that consists of a
gradual reduction in the growth rate following an
asymptotic increase in the body weight (Aguilar et al.,
+32-). However, the duration of this experiment was only
to complete the first phase of growth which is the initial
exponential development phase, because the phases after-
wards are not economic for broiler producers.
Several researchers reported that males were superior to
females, and had heavier body weights (Gous et al., +333;
Scheuermann et al., ,**-). Possible factors responsible
for sexual di#erences in growth and development were
reviewed by Purchas (+33+). The main factor on gender
di#erences in body weight and muscularity may be pre-
determined during embryonic development when the
number of myofibres is established (Henry and Burke,
+332). Gonzales et al. (+332) observed strain e#ect
among several strains of male broilers in live weight. Our
results are in agreement with Korver et al. (,**.) who
found that genotype influenced body weight, where ac-
cording to their findings, Ross῎Hubbard birds had lower
body weight and lower gain per day compared to Ross῎
Ross and Hubbard῎Hubbard strain through ., days of
age. Genetic selection has resulted in considerably heavier
commercial broilers that are marketed at younger ages
(Gyles, +323). There are also di#erences among the
selected strains depending on their genetic background,
and this has been observed in this study.
Results of average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, and
feed conversion ratio are presented in Table +. Average
daily gain was greater (P῏*.*+) for Hcl compared to
HJV, Lh, and Rs strains during 1ῌ,+, ,2ῌ., days of age,
and the overall ADG (1ῌ., days). Gender also a#ected
15
ADG during 1ῌ+., ,+ῌ,2, ,2ῌ-/ and the overall 1ῌ.,
days. A significant strain by gender interaction was
recorded only during ,2ῌ-/ days. Feed intake was a#ect-
ed (P῏*.*+) by strain during 1ῌ,2 days of age. Feed
intake over the course of the entire experiment period (1ῌ
., days) was also influenced (P῏*.**+) by strain.
Hubbard classic, HJV, Lh, and Rs broiler strains con-
sumed ++3.,, ++/.*, ++2.*, ++2.* g/chick of feed, respec-
tively. Male broilers consumed (P῏*.*+) more feed
compared to females (+,*.3 vs. ++.., g/chick, for overall
intake). However, Feed intake was influenced signifi-
cantly by an interaction between strain and gender during
,+ῌ,2, ,2ῌ-/ and the overall 1ῌ., days. Feed conversion
ratio (FCR) was influenced (P῏*.*/) by strain through-
out the experiment while gender influenced (P῏*.*/)
FCR only during the first week of age. Birds of Hcl strain
had lower FCR value (,.,+ g of feed/g of gain) compared
to Lh, Rs and HJV birds (,.--, ,..3 and ,.0, g of feed/g
of gain, respectively for overall FCR). No strain by
gender interaction was observed on FCR during the rear-
ing period.
Gonzales et al. (+332) reported that weight gain was
a#ected by strain, with Ross broilers achieving higher
weight gain compared to other strains. Genetic variation
between the strains could have resulted in body weight
gain variation, also, males gained more weight per day
possibly due to their genetic makeup during the embryonic
stage, which lead to having di#erent growth potential that
varied according to their strain and gender. Goliomytis et
al. (,**-) reported that feed consumption was compara-
ble between Cobb /** and Shaver Starbro strains through
+/. days of age. They reported that feed consumption
increased until 2. days of age, then declined until ++, days
of age. Their results are in agreement with our findings,
where the experiment ended at ., days of age and there
was still a continuous increase in feed intake. Smith et al.
(+332) reported that strain and gender had a#ected feed
intake and FCR. Ross῎Ross ,*2 male birds had higher
feed intake and lower FCR than Peterson῎Arbor Acres
males at /- days of age.
Results of FCR in this study were similar to results
reported by Zhong et al. (+33/) who found that FCR
di#ered within gender and strain. However, FCR value
obtained in the present study and that of Zhong et al.
(+33/) were around +.3* to ,..0 at the marketing age
which is in agreement with previous researchers (Palvink
and Hurwitz, +323; Leenstra and Cahaner, +33+), who
reported that genotype and gender influenced overall
FCR. Gonzales et al. (+332) reported that genotype in-
fluenced FCR. Ross broilers showed the lowest feed
conversion value, which was di#erent from Arbor Acres,
but the highest feed conversion value was recorded for
Naked Neck strain, Avian Farms, Cobb /**, ISA,
Hubbard, and Ross strains.
Fasting Live Body Weight, Cold Carcass Weight and Dress-
ing Percentage
Results of fasting live weight, cold carcass weight, and
 16 J. Poult. Sci., .1 (+)

Table +. Average daily gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of the strains for males and females during the
rearing period (1ῌ., days)
Average daily gain (g/chick/d) Feed intake (g/chick/d)
1ῌ+. +.ῌ,+ ,+ῌ,2 ,2ῌ-/ -/ῌ., 1ῌ., 1ῌ+. +.ῌ,+ ,+ῌ,2 ,2ῌ-/ -/ῌ., 1ῌ.,
Strain
Hubbard classic ,14,a ..4,a /-40 0240a 104+a /-43a /*413a 2041a +,.4+a +.342 +2/4* ++34,a
Hubbard JV ,,4-b .*4+b /-4. /34.b ..4*b .,4.b /-41/a 1/40b 314*b +/.40 +3.4* ++/4*b
Lohman ,/4+c -241b /-4+ 0140a 0241ac /*40c .141-a 2.43a +,14/a +.14- +2+42 ++24*a
Ross +24*d -34.b /+4* 0-4.ab 0/4.c .14.d .+4-.b 2.43a +,34,a +.243 +204. ++24*a
Pooled SEM *400 *422 +4- +42 -4- *43, ,4+ +4- ,4* ,4. -41 *42
Gender
Males ,.4+/a .*4,2 /.4-2a 014.1a 0/40. /*4-3a .24- 2,42 +,*42 +/342a +3-4*a +,*43a
Females ,,4+0b .*43+ /+4+/b 0,4*1b 0+4.. .14//b .240 2-4, ++24+ +.*4/b +2*40b ++.4,b
Pooled SEM *4/ *40 *43 +4, ,4. *40+ +4/ *43 +4. +41 ,40 *40
P-value+
Strain *4***+ *4**,* NS *4**1, *4***+ *4***+ *4**/0 *4***+ *4***+ NS NS *4*+*3
Gender *4**2, NS *4*,/, *4**1, NS *4**.2 NS NS NS *4***+ *4**-/ *4***+
Interaction NS NS NS *4*+,3 NS *4*0/. NS *4*1*- *4*,3- *4**02 NS *4***,

Table +. (Continuation) Average daily gain, feed intake, and

feed conversion ratio of the strains for males and females during
the rearing period (1ῌ., days)
Feed conversion ratio (g of feed/g of gain)
1ῌ+. +.ῌ,+ ,+ῌ,2 ,2ῌ-/ -/ῌ., 1ῌ.,
Strain
Hubbard classic +421a +431a ,4--a ,4+3a ,4.0a ,4,+a
Hubbard JV ,4.,b +422a +42,b ,40+b ,400b ,40,b
Lohman +43+a ,4+3b ,4.+a ,4,*a ,403a ,4--a
Ross ,4-+b ,4+0b ,4/.a ,4-.a ,423a ,4.3b
Pooled SEM *4*21 *4*// *4*1/ *4*1, *4*+/ *4*.0
Gender
Males ,4*-a ,4*1 ,4,, ,4.* -4+1 ,4.,
Females ,4,,b ,4*. ,4-, ,4,1 -4*1 ,4.+
Pooled SEM *4*0, *4*-3 *4*/- *4*/+ *4+*0 *4*--
P-value+
Strain *4***/ *4**,/ *4***+ *4**,, *4***+ *4***+
Gender *4*-0/ NS NS NS NS NS
Interaction NS NS NS NS NS NS
a, b, c
Means within a column within a main e#ect are significantly di#erent
(P῏*.*/).
+
P-value: probability values
NS῎Non-significant
SEM῎Standard error of the mean

dressing percentage are presented in Table ,. Fasting live
weight di#ered (P῏*.*/) according to strain at all slaugh-
ter ages. The Hcl birds had heavier (P῏*.***+) fasting
weight at 2 and .- days, followed by Lh, Rs and HJV
birds. Gender a#ected (P῏*.*/) fasting weight at the
ages of ,,, -0, and .- days of age where males were
heavier than females. Genetic make up of males resulted
in providing more potential for gaining more weight and
having higher fasting weight compared to females. Cold
carcass weight was influenced (P῏*.*/) by strain at all
slaughter ages. At all slaughter ages, Hcl birds out
performed the other commercial strains investigated by
having higher cold carcass weight. Gender influenced (P
῏*.*/) carcass weight at ,,, -0, and .- days. Results
showed that males had heavier carcass weight compared
to females which resulted from higher weight gain, fasting
live weight and thus carcass weight of males. A significant
strain by gender interaction was recorded only at .- days
 Abdullah et al.: Broilers Growth Performance and Carcass Quality 17

Table ,. Average of fasting live weight, cold carcass weight, and dressing percentage of the strains for males and
females at di#erent slaughtering ages
Fasting live weight (g/chick) Cold carcass weight (g/chick) Dressing ῌ
2d ,, d -0 d .- d 2d ,, d -0 d .- d 2d ,, d -0 d .- d
Strain
Hubbard classic +0.4-a 10042a +/124,a ,++240a 3342a /.+4/a ++2*41a +/3,42a 0*42 1*40a 1.43 1/4,
Hubbard JV 3-4.b 0-*4.b +/*042b +1+043b /*41b ..041b ++.*4,ab +,124,b /.4- 1*42a 1/41 1.4/
Lohman +.-4/c 03/4-c +/+14,ab ,**340c 2/4-c .2-4.c ++.,4/ab +/-24,a /34. 034/b 1/4. 104/
Ross +.*4/c 00*4*bc +.1*4+b +3*,4*d 2.40c ./-4-b +*324,b +..04,c 0*41 0241b 1.41 104*
Pooled SEM .40 +-4/ ,,43 -04- ,42 +*4, +14+ ,242 +42 *4,2 *4,2 +4+,
Gender
Males +-+40 1+*4/a +/0243a ,*--43a 1143 .3-41a ++0141a +/-/43a /243 034/a 1.4/a 1/4.
Females +-34, 00/42b +.014-b +2-340b 2,4. .0241b +++-4+b +-3+42b /241 1*4.b 1/43b 1/41
Pooled SEM -4, 340 +04, ,/41 ,4* 14, +,4+ ,*4. +4,3 *4+32 *4+30 *4.*
P-value+
Strain *4***+ *4***+ *4*,33 *4***+ *4***+ *4***+ *4*,3/ *4***+ *4*1,/ *4***, *4*3-/ NS
Gender NS *4**./ *4***. *4***+ NS *4*,/3 *4**/1 *4***+ NS *4**/, *4***+ NS
Interaction NS NS NS *4*-.3 NS NS NS *4**-/ NS *4*+,3 *4***+ *4**3+
Means within a column within a main e#ect are significantly di#erent (P῏*.*/).
a, b, c
+
P-value: probability values
NS῎Non-significant
SEM῎Standard error of the mean

of age for fasting live weight and cold carcass weight.
Dressing percentage increased with increasing age. Strain
did not influence dressing percentage except at ,, days,
where Hcl and HJV both had higher (P῏*.**+) dressing
percentage compared to Ross and Lohman. Males had
lower dressing percentage compared to females slaugh-
tered at ,, and -0 days. However, dressing percentage
was influenced significantly by an interaction between
strain and gender at ,,, -0, and .- days. Results of fasting
weight are in agreement with findings reported by Becker
et al. (+32+) who found that gender and strain a#ected
fast live weight. Male broilers tended to have heavier
fasting live weight compared to females, and the cold
carcass weight for males were also heavier than females.
Similar results were reported by Merkley et al. (+32*),
who concluded that strain and gender had significant
e#ect on fasting live weight. Merkley et al. (+32*) re-
ported that carcass weight was not influenced by strain or
gender, but the relative yields of parts among crosses
di#ered. Moran et al. (+31*a) concluded comparable
findings of our results that there was no e#ect of breed on
dressing percentage. However, Singh and Essary (+31.)
observed that dressing percentages were similar between
males and females for broilers of the same age. Similar
carcass weights and dressing percentages, but di#erent
fasting live weights at the marketing age, that were ob-
served in the present study indicate that the di#erences
may have arise from di#erences in non-carcass compo-
nents.
Breast and Leg Cut Percentages and Abdominal Fat Per-
centage
Results of breast and leg cut percentages and abdominal
fat percentage are shown in Table -. Hubbard classic
birds had heavier (P῏*.*/) breast cut percentage at ,,
days (,0.+ῌ) compared to other strains. Breast cut per-
centage of female broilers were the heavier at all slaughter
ages compared to male broilers and the di#erences were at
significant levels at 2, ,,, and -0 days of age. A significant
strain by gender interaction was recorded only at .- days
of age. Leg cut percentage was a#ected by genotype only
at -0 days (P῏*.*+). At the age of -0 days, Hubbard JV
had the highest leg cut percentage (,2ῌ) compared with
other strains. Gender influenced leg cut percentage at ,,
days (P῏*.*/) and -0 days (P῏*.**+), males had higher
leg cut percentage compared to females. Abdominal fat
percentage di#ered among strains at ,, days (P῏*.**+)
and .- days (P῏*.*+). Lohman had the highest abdom-
inal fat percentage and Hubbard JV had the lowest per-
centage at all slaughters, however, when birds were
slaughtered at 2 days, there was not any abdominal fat in
all strains. Abdominal fat percentage was influenced sig-
nificantly by an interaction between strain and gender at
,, and -0 days, without observing any e#ect from the
gender factor.
Results for breast and leg cut percentages agree with
findings of Merkley et al. (+32*) who reported that males
and females exhibited di#erences (P῏*.*+) in breast and
leg cut percentages. They also showed that females tended
to have greater relative yield of breast compared to males,
while relative yield of legs were greater for males. Ross
crosses had larger proportion of breast than Hubbard
crosses, while Hubbard crosses had larger proportion of
legs than Ross crosses.
Moran et al. (+31*b) observed that females had higher
 18 J. Poult. Sci., .1 (+)

Table -. Breast and leg cut percentages and abdominal fat percentage of the strains for males and females at di#erent
slaughtering ages
Breast ῌ Leg ῌ Abdominal fat ῌ
2d ,, d -0 d .- d 2d ,, d -0 d .- d 2d ,, d -0 d .- d
Strain
Hubbard classic +342a ,04+a ,/43a ,242a ,/43 ,043 ,14*a ,043  +4++a +420 +41/ab
Hubbard JV +/4.b ,.4,b ,04*a ,041b ,14, ,14/ ,24*b ,14-  +4*-a +4/0 +4./b
Lohman ,*4*a ,/4,c ,/4,ab ,24/a ,04- ,14/ ,14,a ,043 +4/*b ,4++ ,4+3a
Ross +34,a ,/4-c ,.41b ,24+a ,041 ,14+ ,14.a ,043  +4,*a ,4*. +412ab
Pooled SEM *4.+ *4,1 *4-0 *4-/ *4-, *4+1 *4,* *4+3  *4*2 *4+1 *4+0
Gender
Males +141a ,.43a ,.43a ,142 ,040 ,14.a ,141a ,14+  +4,- +43 +41-
Females +34/b ,/4/b ,04*b ,24- ,04. ,14+b ,14*b ,043  +4+3 +43 +42/
Pooled SEM *4,3 *4+3 *4,/ *4,/ *4,- *4+, *4+* *4+-  *4*0 *4+, *4+,
P-value+
Strain *4***+ *4***+ *4*-// *4***, *4*/+3 *4*0.* *4**-1 NS  *4***0 *4*333 *4*+3-
Gender *4***+ *4*,,0 *4**+/ NS NS *4*-*, *4***0 NS  NS NS NS
Interaction NS *4*2,0 NS *4*.2. NS NS *4*2+* NS  *4*.2- *4*-.0 NS
Means within a column within a main e#ect are significantly di#erent (P*.*/).
a, b, c
+
P-value: probability values
NSNon-significant
SEMStandard error of the mean

breast cut percentage and lower leg cut percentage com-
pared to males within di#erent strains. The recorded data
for abdominal fat percentage was (*.3ῌ,..ῌ) less than
what has been reported by Merkley et al. (+32*). The
abdominal fat percentage was around -.-.ῌ-.1,ῌ which
was a#ected by strain and gender. Di#erence between
HubbardHubbard and RossHubbard crosses of *.-2
ῌ points represent an actual di#erence of 1.1 g of abdom-
inal fat. Merkley et al. (+32*) concluded that female
broilers tended to have much larger percentage of abdom-
inal fat than males of the same strain. These results are
not in agreement with our findings, where gender had no
e#ect on abdominal fat percentage.
In contrary with our results, Kubena et al. (+31.) re-
ported that gender a#ected on abdominal fat percentage
where females had higher abdominal fat percentage than
males. Values obtained in this study were comparable
with values obtained by Renema et al. (+333). Fontana et
al. (+33-) found that the genetic factor play a significant
role in abdominal fat weights.
Meat Quality
Meat quality parameters measured on pectoralis major
muscle were not influenced by strain or gender (Table .),
except for shear force values which were influenced by
strain (P*.*/), and cooking loss percentage which was
influenced by gender (P*.*/,.). An interaction e#ect
between strain and gender was also observed only for
water holding capacity percentage. Shear force values
were the highest in Hcl and Rs strains, yet these values are
still within the acceptable range of tenderness. Water lost
on cooking was higher in males when compared to
females. The pH of pectoralis muscle was not influenced;
neither by strain or gender. The pH of chicken pectoralis
has been reported to decline from 0./ to /.0 in the ,. h
period following slaughter (Stewart et al., +32.; Smith et
al., +33,). Smith et al. (+33,) examined the pectoralis
muscles of duckling and chicken and found that the pH
decline was significantly di#erent in the two muscle types.
The chicken pectoralis had a slower pH decline rate than
the duckling. Values of pH obtained in the current study
are comparable with pH values reported in literature on
several chicken strains (Liu et al., ,**.; Meha#ey et al.,
,**0). Chaing et al. (+33/b) reported that 30.1 to almost
+**ῌ of muscle fibres in the pectoralis superficial muscles
are -White fibres. These types of fibres require more
time to undergo rigor mortis thus require more time to
attain ultimate pH (Sams and Janky, +33+). Researchers
reported that sex had no e#ect on the fibre type of bird
muscles (Chaing et al., +33/a); therefore, no di#erences
were observed between males and females in pH. It has
been reported that poultry meat with low pH has been
associated with low water holding capacity (WHC),
which results in increased cooking loss (Barbut, +33-;
Northcutt et al., +33.). Meat with low pH has also been
reported to decrease tenderness (Barbut, +33-). Since pH
values obtained in the current study were within the
normal range of ultimate pH, none of the other measured
variables were negatively influenced; cooking loss and
WHC percentages, and Warner-Bratzler shear force
values were within the range of acceptable values reported
in literature (Liu et al., ,**.; Meha#ey et al., ,**0).
Chemical Analysis
Chemical analysis was influenced by di#erences between
strains and gender (Table /). Dry matter percentage was
 Abdullah et al.: Broilers Growth Performance and Carcass Quality 19

Table .. Meat quality measurements of the strains for males and females
slaughtered at .- days

Water holding Warner-Bratzler

Ultimate Cooking loss
capacity shear force
pH ῌ
ῌ (kg/cm,)

Strain
Hubbard classic /403 ,2421 +/4+* ,4,+ab
Hubbard JV /4.2 ,241/ +24+/ +4.3a
Lohman /40, ,24./ +34+, +4/1a
Ross /4/3 ,243/ +14*1 ,41.b
Pooled SEM *4*0 *411 ,4+. *4,1
Gender
Males /40- ,34/0a +24*+ ,4+3
Females /4/0 ,143/b +041+ +42,
Pooled SEM *4*. *4/. +4/+ *4+3
P-value+
Strain NS NS NS *4*+01
Gender NS *4*/,. NS NS
Interaction NS *4*333 *4*,,- NS
Means within a column within a main e#ect are significantly di#erent (P῏*.*/).
a, b
+
P-value: probability values
NS῎Non-significant
SEM῎Standard error of the mean

higher (P῏*.*/) in Rs meat compared to other strains at
2 and -0 days. Gender also influenced the dry matter
percentage at 2 and -0 days, and the interaction e#ect
between strain and gender influenced dry matter percent-
age at .- days. Dry matter percentage was higher (P῏
*.*/) in females at 2 days and in males at -0 days. Crude
protein percentage was lower (P῏*.*/) at 2, -0, and .-
days of age in HJV meat compared to the other strains.
Gender influenced crude protein percentage only at .-
days, where males had higher (P῏*.**+) crude protein
percentage compared to females. However, significant
strain by gender interaction was observed at 2, ,, and .-
days of age. Ether extract percentage di#ered (P῏*.*/)
among strains at all slaughter ages. At 2 days, Rs meat
had the highest ether extract percentage, while at ,, and
.- days, ether extract percentage was the highest in Hcl
meat. Gender also influenced (P῏*.*/) ether extract
percentage at 2, -0, and .- days, and the interaction e#ect
was only observed at ,, and .- days. Females had higher
ether extract percentage compared to males. Ash percent-
age was comparable among the di#erent strains at all
slaughter ages and between males and females.
The results of the present study regarding fat content
was in agreement with Goodwin et al. (+303) who ob-
served that there were significant di#erences among +,
broiler strains when fat content of eviscerated carcass
were analyzed. Moran et al. (+31*a), and Edwards and
Denman (+31/) also found that there were significant
di#erences among strains in carcass fat and body compo-
sition. Becker et al. (+32+) reported that both strains and
sex had significant e#ect on body composition especially
for carcass fat percentage. Twining et al. (+312) found
that females always had more fat and less protein com-
pared to males. They also found that there were no
significant di#erences in body composition of the broiler
birds which could be related to the sex of bird at ,2 days
of age, but sex had significant di#erence on body com-
position at .3 days of age. van Marle-Köster and Webb
(,***) determined carcass characteristics of six commer-
cial broilers strain (Koekoek, New Hampshire, Naked-
Neck, Lebowa-Venda, Ovambo, and Cobb). They found
that strains had significant e#ect on body composition.
The highest crude protein content was recorded for the
Lebowa-Venda and the lowest for Cobb. Crude fat con-
tent was lowest in the Lebowa-Venda and Koekoek and
the highest in Cobb.
In conclusion, although Hubbard classic birds out per-
formed the other strains investigated in terms of having
higher body weight, body weight gain, e$cient FCR,
fasting live weight, and carcass weight, this strain failed to
out perform in terms of dressing percentage and meat
quality parameters where all strains had comparable dress-
ing and quality outcomes.
 20 J. Poult. Sci., .1 (+)

Table /. Chemical composition (as fed basis) of the strains for males and females at di#erent
slaughtering ages
Dry matter ῌ Crude protein ῌ
2d ,, d -0 d .- d 2d ,, d -0 d .- d
Strain
Hubbard classic ,341a -+40 -,43a -.41 +141a ,+4/ ,-4*a ,-4+a
Hubbard JV ,242a -+4* -,4*b --41 +/40b ,+43 ,+4*b ,,4*b
Lohman ,341a -+4* -,4/b --4, +14+a ,+42 ,-4*a ,,40ab
Ross -+4+b -,4* -,4/ab --4+ +14,a ,+41 ,,4*c ,,4,b
Pooled SEM *4-- *4,/ *4+. *4-+ *4+0/ *4+1 *4+3 *4+2
Gender
Males ,34+a -+4- -,40a --40 +042 ,+41 ,,4- ,-4*a
Females -*41b -+4- -,4+b --42 +14* ,+42 ,,4* ,,4*b
Pooled SEM *4.0 *4-/ *4,* *4./ *4,-- *4,/ *4,1 *4,/
P-value+
Strain *4*+32 NS *4*+10 *4*30. *4***+ NS *4***, *4*,-0
Gender *4**-/ NS *4*,./ NS NS NS *4*00- *4***2
Interaction NS NS NS *4***2 *4**+/ *4**/3 NS *4**0,

Table /. (Continuation) Chemical composition (as fed basis) of the strains for males and fe-
males at di#erent slaughtering ages
Ether extract ῌ Ash ῌ
2d ,, d -0 d .- d 2d ,, d -0 d .- d
Strain
Hubbard classic ++4/a +*42a +*4+a ++4/a +4+ ,4/ ,4/ ,42
Hubbard JV +,4+a 240b +*43b +*43b +4, ,4, ,41 ,40
Lohman ++43a 243bc 34,c +*4+c +4+ ,4/ ,4/ ,4.
Ross +-4*b 341c +*42ab +*4-bc +4* ,4. ,40 ,4/
Pooled SEM *4+1. *4,* *4+1 *4+. *4*,- *4*02 *4*// *4*10
Gender
Males +*43a 34. 343a +*4.a +4+ ,4. ,41 ,41
Females +-4.b 341 +*40b ++4*b +4+ ,4/ ,4/ ,4/
Pooled SEM *4,.0 *4,2 *4,. *4,* *4*-- *4*30 *4*12 *4+*1
P-value+
Strain *4**.2 *4***, *4***/ *4**+* *4*0*+ NS NS NS
Gender *4***+ NS *4*+,2 *4**.* NS NS *4*1,2 NS
Interaction NS *4***/ NS *4***+ *4***/ *4*10 NS NS
Means within a column within a main e#ect are significantly di#erent (P῏*.*/).
a, b, c
+
P-value: probability values
NS῎Non-significant
SEM῎Standard error of the mean

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