BONE MORPHOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF THE TIBIA AND FEMUR OF INDIGENOUS AND BROILER CHICKENS REARED INTENSIVELY

Abstract

Good structure and function of skeletal system are among the important factors in poultry management. Therefore, understanding the bone parameters of chickens is of paramount importance as they indicate the basic supportive, locomotive and protective functions. The aim of this study was to determine the bone measurements of Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens aged 90 days. A 2 (breed) × 2 (sex) factorial arrangement in a completely randomised design was used and replicated four times with 20 birds per replicate. A total of 80 Ross 308 broilers and Venda chickens (20 males, 20 females of each breed) were sacrificed to measure the carcass, tibia, femur and fibula characteristics. A digital calliper and electronic scale were used to measure the length, diameter and weight of the bones. Ash contents of the bones were determined. Tibiotarsal, seedor and robusticity indices of the tibia and femur bones were measured. Tibia and femur lengths and widths were shorter in Venda chickens than those of Ross 308 broiler chickens. Ash contents of tibia and femur diaphysis and epiphysis of male and female Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens varied significantly between the two breeds. Tibia and femur Seedor index were higher in males and females of Ross 308 broiler than Venda chickens. Diaphysis and medullary canal diameter were higher in Ross 308 broiler chickens than Venda chickens. The tibiotarsal index was lower for Ross 308 broiler than Venda chickens. Sex and breed affected the bone length, weight and width of Ross 308 broiler and Venda chickens at 90 days of age.