COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF BODY CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BROILER-CHICKENS

Body characteristics have been suggested as possible predisposing fact ors for disease conditions such as skin scratches and cellulitis in br oiler chickens. In this study, two experiments were conducted to inves tigate the relationship between certain body characteristics and to co mpare two different strains of broiler chickens. In the first experime nt, the association between body weight and total skin surface area (T SSA) and abdominal skin surface area (ASSA) was investigated in 30 mal e birds from one genetic line. Body weight was significantly associate d with total skin surface area (P less than or equal to.0001) and abdo minal skin surface area (P less than or equal to.0001). In the second experiment, 30 male birds each from two different stains (A and B) wer e examined to investigate whether significant differences existed rega rding certain body characteristics. Strain A had a significantly great er abdominal circumference and shorter legs than Strain B. However, no significant difference was observed in body weight or abdominal skin surface area.