Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
2 Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between male and female broilers and to determine the gender effect on performance, intestinal morphology, intestinal microbial population and blood parameters of broilers. For this purpose, 120 one-day-old male and female Ross 308 chicks were sexed and divided into 2 groups (60 males and 60 females) with 6 replicates and 10 birds each. The results showed that feed intake of grower finisher and whole experimental periods and body weight gain of grower and whole experimental periods were greater in male broilers than in female ones (P<0.05). The height of the duodenum and jejunum villus and the ratio of villus height to jejunum crypt depth were higher in male broiler chickens than in female birds (P<0.05). Female broilers had greater crypt depth in the jejunum. Blood glucose, uric acid, albumin, and total protein concentrations were significantly higher in male birds than in female birds (P<0.05). However, blood triglyceride, cholesterol, and T3 concentrations were higher in female broilers (P<0.05). Lactobacillus bacterial populations in the ileum and cecum of male broilers were higher than in female broilers (P<0.05). In general, male and female broilers differ in most of the parameters studied, and the use of male or female birds affects the results of the research. Therefore, it is recommended that researchers seek alternative methods, including estimating the sex effect using intelligent computational methods, due to the existing differences and difficulties in determining sex at day one of age.
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