Comparative Evaluation of Growth Performance, Meat Quality and Intestinal Development of Indigenous and Commercial Chicken Strains

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the growth performance, meat quality characteristics and intestinal development of indigenous and commercial chicken strains raised under an intensive management system.Materials and Methods: One hundred eighty birds of local Omani and Cobb500 broiler chickens were divided into two groups of15 replicates with each replicate containing 6 birds.The birds were fed a non-medicated conventional corn-soybean meal diet.Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were recorded weekly.At the end of the growth experimental period (35 days), 15 birds per breed were randomly selected for morphological analysis of the jejunum and ileum, carcass and organ weight.Blood was collected for hematological and serum biochemistry analysis.Results: Hematological and serum analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the Omani and Cobb 500 broiler chickens, suggesting that the birds were healthy.The Cobb 500 showed a significantly higher feed intake (63.8%) and body weight gain (72.1%) and a better feed conversion ratio than that of the Omani breed (1.5 vs 1.96).Morphological analysis showed that Cobb 500 broilers had a greater villi height compared to the Omani breed (p<0.01).Conclusion: Villus development has a profound effect on the growth performance of chickens.