Comparative Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Local Horro and Exotic Cockerels of Tropical Origin Fed Growers Diet

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of male chickens were evaluated using eight-week-old 360 cockerels from three exotic (Koekoek, Kuroiler Sasso-R) one Ethiopian indigenous (Horro) genotypes. Cockerels in each breed (90) randomly allocated into replications 30 birds housed deep litter pens for the experiment that lasted 8 to 16 weeks. The was arranged a Completely Randomized Design. Seven per slaughtered at end determine yield, chemical composition attributes meat. has higher body weight, weight change (1621.8 g), average daily gain (28.9 g/day), feed consumption (127.4 g/day) better conversion ratio (4.40) than other breeds. heavier slaughter (2716.3 dressed (2201.0 eviscerated (1905.1 breast (537.7 thigh (303.1 g) drumstick (274.8 Total edible offal (324.2 Sasso-R (306.1 intermediate Koekoek (204.4 low Horro (152.4 breed. relative proportion (% weight) lower (17.3 8.9) breeds, respectively. Abdominal fat (13.7 g 1.02%) lowest Horro. showed percent (13.4%) (11.4%). DM content rest. CP Higher EE recorded (8.9%), whereas, similar (3.4% - 3.7%) among Flavor, tenderness, juiciness general acceptability not affected by highest net return observed Based on results obtained, it is suggested can be used cockerel production Ethiopia where intensive broiler well developed.