Growth performances and suitability for processing of Ardenne chicken in the sub-humid region of Benin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the viability, growth and carcass performances of Ardenne chicken in the sub-humid region of Benin. The experimentation was carried out in 2005, from January to April for the first repetition and July to October for the second repetition. The animal were fed with two diets: a starting diet (2911 Kcal of ME / kg and 24.4% of CP) used during the four first weeks and a finishing diet (3054 Kcal of ME / kg and 19.7% of CP) used as from the fifth to the thirteenth week. At the hatching, the chicks weight of the first repetition (35,6 g) was not different from the one of the second repetition (35,1 g). At the end of this trial, the chickens of the first repetition had a similar weight to those of the second repetition (1516 g vs 1473 g). No significant difference was observed between the animal consumption and the feed efficiency of the two repetitions. The slaughter weight of the males was 15% superior to the one of the females. Beside the abdominal fat and the pH 24h measurement, the males had the carcass weight, the carcass trait, the dressing percentage, significantly higher than those of female. At the other hand, the females had a pH1 and water-holding capacity significantly higher than the males.