Carcass and commercial cuts yield in broilers of different ages fed diets supplemented with probiotics

In this study, the carcass and commercial cuts weights and yields in broilers of different ages fed diets supplemented with probiotics were determined. A total of 336 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were randomly allocated into three treatment groups (P0, P1 and P2). A basal diet (P0), basal diet plus 0.01% (P1) and 0.02% (P2) probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 4x10 8 cfu g -1 ) were offered to experimental groups. At the end of the trial, all chicks were slaughtered and stored at 3 °C for 24 hours. The cold carcass weights were determined, and then the carcasses were dissected into neck, whole wing, wing drumette, winglet, wing tip, whole breast, breast fillet, breast skin, front back, thigh, drumstick, hind back and tail as cuts up. All cuts up were weighed and their yields were calculated. The use of probiotic in broiler diet had significant effects on whole breast (p<0.05), breast fillets (p<0.01) and front back (p<0.01) weights. The weightiest breast fillet was in P1 as compared with control and P2 groups (p<0.05). The slaughter age, as expected, affected all parameters investigated (p<0.01) in point of weight of carcasses and cuts up, and the highest values were obtained at 49 days. On the other hand, the effect of treatment x slaughter age interaction on front back weight of broiler carcass was significant (p<0.05).