Effect of dietary protease supplementation on carcass weight and dressing percentage of broilers

Abstract

This paper presents research results on the effect of protease supplementation of reduced crude protein broiler diet on carcass weight and dressing percentage of two broiler genotypes: fast-growing Cobb 500 and slow-growing Master Gris. Complete feeds for broilers in experimental groups E-I and E-II contained 4 and 6% less crude protein than the control (C), and were supplemented with protease (Ronozyme Pro Act) at a concentration of 0.2 and 0.3%, respectively. At 49 days of age i.e. at the end of the experiment, 10 male and 10 female broilers of both hybrids were randomly selected from each experimental group and slaughtered. Upon slaughter, conventionally dressed, ready-to-roast and ready-to-grill carcass weights and abdominal fat weight were measured. These data and body weight at slaughter were used to calculate dressing percentages and abdominal fat percentage. The results showed a significant effect of genotype and no effect of dietary treatments on carcass quality traits.