The Effect of Feed Particle Size, Enzyme Supplementation and Pelleting On Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chickens

The effect of feed particle size, enzyme supplementation and pelleting on carcass characteristics were studied. Particle size of feed did not affect dressed yield, eviscerated yield and drawn yield significantly. Enzyme supplementation resulted in non-significant improvement in drawn yield compared to corresponding unsupplemented diets. Particle size of diets is the geometric mean diameter (GMD) and is expressed as microns (μ). The increased giblet yield was observed with the increase in particle size. The values being 4.96, 5.03, 5.38 and 5.21 for T₂ (669μ), T₃ (905 μ GMD), T₄ (1142 μ GMD) and T₅ (913 μ GMD). Enzyme supplementation and pelleting resulted in reduction in giblets yield. The percent relative weight of pancreas in T₁, T₂, T₃, T, T were 0.23, 0.34, 0.30, 0.38 and 0.36, respectively. Enzyme supplementation (T, T, T 45678^{, and T) and pelleting (T, T, T, and T) resulted in decreased relative weight of pancreas in 910111213 comparison to corresponding unsupplemented counterparts. Moisture content and crude protein in thigh muscle remained unchanged by particle size, enzyme supplementation and pelleting. Moisture in breast muscle was highest in T₇ (74.66) and lowest in T₁₃ (73.49) and CP content ranged from 20.89 (T₁₀) to 19.67 (T₁). Percent ether extract values in T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, T₅ ranged from 6.26 to 7.42 in thigh muscles and from 3.97 to 4.91 in breast muscles showing no specific trend. The results suggested that there was no specific effect of enzyme supplementation, pelleting and particle size on carcass composition.}