Growth performance and carcass traits of Black Rock, Red Cornish and Vanaraja chicken reared in the coastal climatic condition of Odisha

The present study was conducted to evaluate the growth performance and carcass traits of three coloured breeds of chicken, Black Rock, Red Cornish, and Vanaraja reared in coastal climate of Odisha. Hundred (100) day old straight run chicks from the three breeds were randomly selected and kept for 24 weeks in deep litter system of management. Six male birds and six female birds from each of the three breeds at 20 weeks of age were taken for the study of carcass traits and meat composition. Significantly higher body weight of 2554.32 g and better FCR was seen in Red Cornish than Vanaraja (2340.26 g) and Black Rock (2295.32 g). Higher giblet weight of 110.83 g was observed in males of Red Cornish but higher wing weight of 248.16 g and back weight of 361.66 g was found in Vanaraja. No difference in dressing percentage of the males and females of the three breeds was also observed. In females the giblet weight of 104.50 g and drum stick weight of 377.33 g in Red Cornish was higher than Black Rock and Vanaraja. Similarly a higher neck weight was observed in both Red Cornish and Vanaraja than Black Rock. No significant difference in the proximate composition of meat like moisture, protein, fat and ash percentage was observed. From this result it can be concluded that among the three breeds Red Cornish performed better than Vanaraja and Black Rock in this climatic condition.