In Pakistan rural poultry has been playing an important role in the production of eggs and poultry meat. During the year, 2010, the contribution of rural poultry in overall production of eggs and poultry meat in the country has been about 32.15 and 15.38 percent, respectively. However, conservation and genetic improvement of native poultry breeds has been the major problem hindering the development of rural poultry. Aseel is a native rural poultry breed which possesses very good meat production character, however very little research work has been conducted to study its growth and carcass traits. Keeping this in view, the present study was planned to evaluate comparative growth and carcass traits of different varieties of native Aseel. For this purpose 96, day-old Aseel chicks, 24 each of 4 different varieties viz Peshawari, Mianwali, Mushki and Lakha were maintained under standard managemental conditions for a period of 15 weeks according to Completely Randomized Design. The data on weekly body weight gain and feed intake were collected and feed conversion efficiency was worked out. At 12 and 15 weeks of age, carcass characteristics such as dressing percentage, shank length and width, breast length and width, intestinal length and weight and giblet weight were studied
The average feed intake (g) of four varieties of Aseel varied significantly (p>0.05) from 1 to 15 weeks of age. The average body weight (g) of four varieties of Aseel was significantly differed at 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 14th and 15 weeks of age. However, non-significant effect was observed at day-old chick and also at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 11th and 12th weeks of age. The average of weekly body weight gain (g) of four varieties of Aseel significantly differed at 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th weeks of age. However, non-significant effect was observed at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th weeks of age.
The average of FCR of four varieties of Aseel was varied significantly (p<0.05) at 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th and 11th weeks of age, however, non-significant effect was observed in 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th weeks of age. The average mean of times weekly body weight gain of four varieties of Aseel significantly varied (p<0.05) at 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th weeks of age. Non-significant effects was however observed at 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th weeks of age. The weekly average mean intake of protein, calories, calcium, phosphorus and fiber in four varieties of Aseel significantly differed (p<0.05) throughout the experimental period from 1-15 weeks of age.
The results of this study in respect of carcass characteristics indicate that Aseel males had higher live body weight, weight with viscera, dressed weight, shank length, shank width, than Aseel females at 12 and 15 weeks of age. However non-significant differences were observed among the four varieties of Aseel at both 12 and 15 weeks of age in these parameters. The results indicated that males had higher, gizzard weight (with contents), gizzard weight (without contents), breast width, and breast length, than Aseel females at 12 weeks of age. However, non-significant differences were observed between sexes at 15 weeks of age and also among the four varieties of Aseel at both 12 and 15 weeks of age in the above mentioned parameters. Aseel males also exhibited higher intestinal and proventriculus weights than those of Aseel females at 12 weeks of age, however, non-significant differences were observed between sexes at 15 weeks of age in both these parameters.
Significant difference in proventriculus and blood weight was observed among the four varieties of Aseel at 12 weeks of age, whereas, non-significant difference was recorded in proventriculus and blood weight at 15 weeks of age. The results indicated non-significant differences between the sexes at both 12 and 15 weeks of age. Aseel males had higher intestinal length and lungs weight, than that of Aseel females at 15 weeks of age, however, non-significant difference in these parameters was observed between the sexes at 12 weeks of age and also among the four varieties of Aseel at both 12 and 15 weeks of age.
Non-significant differences were noted in liver, heart, abdominal fat and spleen weight among the four varieties of Aseel at 12 and 15 weeks of age. Similarly, non-significant difference was observed between the sexes in respect of liver weight and also non-significant difference was recorded in intestinal weight between the four varieties at 12 weeks of age. Whereas, significant differences were observed in these parameters among four varieties of Aseel at 15 weeks of age. Significant difference was observed in abdominal fat percentage among the four varieties of Aseel at 12 weeks of age, however, non-significant differences was found among the four varieties at 15 weeks of age. The sexes differed non-significantly in abdominal fat percentage and also non-significant difference was observed in testes and ovary weight among the four varieties of Aseel at 12 and 15 weeks of age.