Productive performance and carcass traits in commercial broiler hybrids inYucatan, Mexico

The productive performance and caracass quality I of commercial hybrid chic kens were studied in two experiments. The first included four hybrids in a random block design with 12 replications. In the second experiment, five hy brids were used in a completely random design with 5 replications. Five mal es and five females were randomly chosen and slaughtered at seven weeks of age in experiment 1 to evaluate carcass and breast yield as well as percent age of abdominal fat. In experiment 2, the carcass and fat were measured bu t in animals of the same weight (1850 50 g). The other variables observed w ere: live weight, feed consumption and feed conversion at seven weeks of ag e. In both experiments, differences were found (P < 0.05) between hybrids i n live weight and feed consumption, but not in mortality or in percentage o f abdominal fat. In the first experiment, differences were observed in carc ass and breast yield between hybrids. While in the second carcass yield dif fered (P < 0.05) between males. The Peterson x Hubbard and Arbor Acres x Ar bor Acres crosses had greater live weights (P < 0.05), although they were s imilar to the other crosses in feed conversion and carcass quality.