Desempenho de frangos semi-caipira na fase de terminação

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the zootechnical performance of male and female Caipirão chickens during the finishing phase in an intensive system. A total of 49 Caipirão chickens were used: Lot 1 (Males; N = 20) with an initial average weight of 2.525 ± 0.253 kg, and Lot 2 (Females; N = 29) with an initial average weight of 1.965 ± 0.294 kg. During the experiment, the chickens were fed a diet based on soybean meal, corn, and a premix, with an average daily feed intake of 0.145 kg per bird. Daily Weight Gain (DWG), Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR), and Feed Efficiency (FE) were analyzed over 19 days. The results showed better performance in males for DWG and FE, with values of 0.057 kg/day and 39.722, respectively, compared to females, which achieved 0.041 kg/day and 28.210. These differences were statistically significant, indicating greater growth capacity and nutritional efficiency in males. The FCR was numerically higher in females (7.642) compared to males (2.776), but the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, male Caipirão chickens demonstrate superior performance in intensive systems.