March, 1951]
T.
D.
MAHADEVAN
AND
S.
BOSE
41
broiler stage (8 to 12 weeks of age). The percentage loss as offal (head, shanks,
feet and inedible viscera) was more in White Leghorn cockerels than Rhode Island
Red or desi cockerels ; percentages of drawn weight to live weight in the case of
both Rhode Island Red and desi cockerels were more than in White Leghorn cockerels
at every stage of growth. Therefore, as table poultry, the White Leghorn cockerels
are inferior to Rhode Island Red or desi cockerels and occasion considerable reduc-
tions in returns. The percentage of edible viscera (heart, liver and gizzard)
decreased, in general, with increase of live weight in all the three breeds. The per-
centages of edible meat in drawn (eviscerated) cockerels were highest in desi and
lowest in White Leghorn cockerels at every stage of growth. The amount of breast
meat in desi cockerels was more than in Rhode Island Red or White Leghorn cock-
erels. The percentage of breast meat in Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn
cockerels did not show any significant differences. The percentages of leg meat
(thigh and drum stick) in both Rhode Island Red and desi cockerels were more than
in White Leghorn cockerels. There were, however, no significant differences in
the percentages of leg meat in the Rhode Island Red and desi birds.
As the birds for table should have a high proprotion of meat to bone at killing
age and a high proportion of the meat should be breast meat, it is evident that of
the three breeds studied in the present investigation, the desi cockerels were the
most efficient as market poultry and should therefore command higher prices than
the Rhode Island Red or White Leghorn cockerels. Moreover, the average food
consumption of desi cockerels was lower than that of Rhode Island Red cockerels
but equal to that of White Leghorn cockerels. As the percentages of edible meat
in the desi has been found to be significantly higher than in the other two breeds,
the desi cockerels give higher net return and should fetch higher premium than the
Rhode Island Red or White Leghorn birds. The conformation of the dressed
desi cockerels also graded higher than of the other two breeds of cockerels. The
conformation of the dressed desi, Rhode Island Red and White Leghorn cockerels
were classed as full fleshed, fairly well fleshed and poorly fleshed grades respectively
[Charles and Stuart, 1946].
SUMMARY
The determination of the percentage of edible flesh in the Rhode Island Red,
White Leghorn and desi (indigenous) cockerels at 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks of age
respectively revealed that the percentage of total edible meat was highest in the
desi and lowest in the White Leghorn cockerels at all the stages of growth. The
percentage of breast meat also was higher in the desi than in the Rhode Island
Red or White Leghorn cockerels. As regards efficiency, the three breeds ranged
themselves in the following descending order : The desi, Rhode Island Red and
White Leghorn. The conformation of the dressed desi, Rhode Island Red and
White Leghorn cockerels were classed as fully fleshed, fairly well fleshed and poorly
fleshed grades respectively.
REFERENCE
Charles, T. B. and Stuart, H.O. (1946). Commercial Poultry Farming, The Interstate, Illinois,
U. S. A., 330.