EFFECT OF VARIOUS REARING SYSTEMS ON SOMEBLOOD BIOCHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES AND WEIGHTS OF EDIBLE AND INEDIBLE INTERNAL ORGANS IN BROILERS

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of different rearing systems on some blood biochemical parameters and the characteristics of both edible and inedible internal organs in broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted at the Poultry Fields of the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture/ University of Anbar, over 42 days from November 24, 2023, to January 4, 2024. A total of 180 one-day-old Ross 308 strain, with an average initial weight of 42 gm, were used in the study. The chicks were randomly assigned to three treatments, each with four replicates. An optimal environment for rearing the chicks was established, which included suitable temperature, humidity, ventilation, lighting, and health management. The treatments were categorized as follows: T1: Traditional floor-rearing system using wood shavings as bedding. T2: Battery system using metal cages with four tiers, cage dimensions (80, 120, 40) cm, and metal mesh floors with an opening size of 1.5 cm. T3: Floor rearing system using a plastic mesh floor raised 7 cm above the ground, with mesh openings of 1.5 cm. The results showed no significant differences between blood biochemical attributes or the weight of edible internal organs across all experimental treatments. Similarly, there were no notable differences in the weight of the thigh and breast among the various treatments. These findings that the different rearing systems used in the experiment did not induce any signs of stress in the birds. Furthermore, the lack of significant differences in the weight of inedible internal organs indicates that the birds’ immune capacity was preserved, regardless of the rearing systems employed and maintained, irrespective of the rearing systems used.