Main Article Content
Keywords
Array
Abstract
Objective: Analyze the performance of the chicken carcass finished in grazing with canavalia (Canavalia ensiformis L.) under edaphoclimatic conditions of the humid tropic of Mexico.
Design / methodology / approximation: A total of n=40 Cobb-500 line chickens of 22 d of age and a weight of 1.45 ± 0.17 kg were used. Chickens were divided into two groups under a completely randomized design: A) chickens fed canavalia plus concentrated feed and ground yellow corn (Zea mays L.) (ratio 1: 1), and B) confined chickens fed concentrate and ground yellow corn (ratio 1: one); both groups were fed in the morning for 20 d. The data were analyzed by means of an ANOVA (P <0.05) and comparison of means by the Tukey method.
Results: Grazing chickens had the same carcass weight performance as chickens in stabled. However, the grazing chickens consumed 30% less concentrated feed, in addition they presented less fat in breast and abdominal.
Limitations of the study / implications: Do not use the plant of canavalia more than 120 d of cultivation, because the content of protein in the leaves decreases.
Findings / Conclusions: With the grazing in canavalia, it is reduced up to 50% of fat in breast and a saving of 30% of concentrated food and ground corn without affecting the yield of meat.
