German
English
Friday, July 30, 2010
Abstracts from 
Fleischwirtschaft 90 (2), S. 92-94, 2010
Utilization of laying-type cockerels as coquelets
Growth performance and carcass quality
By Mirjam Koenig, Gisela Hahn, Klaus Damme und Matthias Schmutz
coquelet | laying type cockerel | ethics | laying hens | carcass trait | carcass quality | growth performance
(original article is only in German language available)
This project refers to the announcement of a directive about the advancement of innovations to improve livestock breeding (Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection). The aim of the study is the development of ethically justifiable methods within the scope of reproduction of laying hens. The purpose is to find an alternative to the present culling of one day old male layer chicks (2007 in Germany: 42.5 Million). At first growth performance and carcass quality were enquired to find out the appropriate laying-type genotype. The experiment comprised commercial broilers as control (Ross 308, male and female) and laying-type cockerels (medium heavy: Lohmann
Brown, Hy-Line Brown; light: Lohmann Selected Leghorn, Dekalb White). The cockerels were reared on deep litter, and were fed standard diets ad libitum. The first step was to find out the appropriate genotype by analyzing fattening performance and carcass quality.
The broilers attained the intended body weight of about 650.g after 19 days, the laying-type cockerels after 47 days (LB, Hyline) or 49 days (LSL, Dekalb), respectively. According to growth performance, there was a continuous increase until day 42. Feed conversion was calculated to be 1:1.2 for broilers, and 1:2.5 for egg-laying types. The valuable
parts (i.e. breast, legs) were on average 65% for broilers and 62% for
laying-type cockerels, with meat percentages of 45% (Ross) and 41% (laying-type cockerels).Forthcoming investigations will complement the characterization of the carcass quality of laying-type cockerels, and the expected results on meat quality will contribute to the decision of which laying-type cockerels are appropriate as coquelet. At the end this project could contribute to interconnect the production of a high quality product with the solution of an ethical problem in animal production.
Autors' addresses
Mirjam Koenig und Dr. Gisela Hahn, Max-Rubner-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für
Ernährung und Lebensmittel, E.-C.-Baumann-Str. 20, 95326 Kulmbach; Dr. Klaus Damme,
Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Lehr-, Versuchs- und Fachzentrum für Geflügel, Mainbernheimer Str. 101, 97318 Kitzingen; Dr. Matthias Schmutz, Am Seedeich 9-11, 27454 Cuxhaven
This project refers to the announcement of a directive about the advancement of innovations to improve livestock breeding (Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection). The aim of the study is the development of ethically justifiable methods within the scope of reproduction of laying hens. The purpose is to find an alternative to the present culling of one day old male layer chicks (2007 in Germany: 42.5 Million). At first growth performance and carcass quality were enquired to find out the appropriate laying-type genotype. The experiment comprised commercial broilers as control (Ross 308, male and female) and laying-type cockerels (medium heavy: Lohmann
Brown, Hy-Line Brown; light: Lohmann Selected Leghorn, Dekalb White). The cockerels were reared on deep litter, and were fed standard diets ad libitum. The first step was to find out the appropriate genotype by analyzing fattening performance and carcass quality.
The broilers attained the intended body weight of about 650.g after 19 days, the laying-type cockerels after 47 days (LB, Hyline) or 49 days (LSL, Dekalb), respectively. According to growth performance, there was a continuous increase until day 42. Feed conversion was calculated to be 1:1.2 for broilers, and 1:2.5 for egg-laying types. The valuable
parts (i.e. breast, legs) were on average 65% for broilers and 62% for
laying-type cockerels, with meat percentages of 45% (Ross) and 41% (laying-type cockerels).Forthcoming investigations will complement the characterization of the carcass quality of laying-type cockerels, and the expected results on meat quality will contribute to the decision of which laying-type cockerels are appropriate as coquelet. At the end this project could contribute to interconnect the production of a high quality product with the solution of an ethical problem in animal production.
Autors' addresses
Mirjam Koenig und Dr. Gisela Hahn, Max-Rubner-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut für
Ernährung und Lebensmittel, E.-C.-Baumann-Str. 20, 95326 Kulmbach; Dr. Klaus Damme,
Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft, Lehr-, Versuchs- und Fachzentrum für Geflügel, Mainbernheimer Str. 101, 97318 Kitzingen; Dr. Matthias Schmutz, Am Seedeich 9-11, 27454 Cuxhaven
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