Effects of age and live weight on meat yield characteristics of Giribaz squab

Abstract

A total of 60 Giribaz squabs of different ages (25-35 days) were purchased, slaughtered and allowed to bleed properly. After dissection the parts of squab were weighed separately and recorded. It was found that dressing percentage, total meat, breast meat, dark meat, wing meat, thigh meat, drumstick meat, total bone, wing bone, thigh bone, drumstick bone and the ratio of breast and dark meat (breast: dark meat) were 53.88, 18.97, 10.45, 8.54, 4.05, 2.41, 2.08, 10.41, 3.72 0.76, 0.88, and 1.22%, respectively. The average length of neck, wing bone, thigh bone, drumstick bone, elementary tract and shank were 5.62, 8.67, 3.37, 5.05, 84.03, and 2.85cm, respectively. On the other hand, the average weight of head, neck, heart, liver, gizzard, spleen, abdominal fat, back, skin and shank were 4.94, 1.79, 1.09, 3.14, 2.20, 0.10, 0.80, 3.31, 9.49, and 1.84%, respectively. Dressing percentage, total meat, breast meat, dark meat were linearly increased (P<0.01) and gizzard and liver weight were linearly decreased (P<0.01) with the increase of age and live weight. Ratio of breast and dark meat, total bone, drumstick bone, head, neck, elementary tract length, back and shank weight did not maintain (P>0.05) any relation with the increase of age and live weight. Despite smaller in size (229.50g), the dressing percentage of squab was fairly higher (53.88%) and relative ratio of breast and dark meat usually higher (1.22), because the growth of pectoral muscle (flying muscle) appeared to be very fast growing in early life of squab. Further study is needed among different breeds and varieties of pigeon available in Bangladesh for better performance.