pheasants, wheat, body weight, slaughter yield, carcass composition
Abstract
The mean body weight of pheasant cocks (1226 g) and hens (946.9 g) receiving feed mixtures was lower than that of birds fed diets with wheat (♂ 1421.4 g, ♀ 953.2 g). The dressing percentage of both sexes pheasants fed wheat grain also (69.9%) was only 0.3% lower than in birds receiving feed mixtures only (70.2%). The carcasses of birds (♂♀) fed the diet with whole wheat grain contained more breast muscles (251.2 g), leg muscles (198.8 g) and other carcass components. The carcass percentage of breast muscles, leg muscles, wings and skin with fat was lower, and that of remainders of carcass higher in pheasants receiving wheat grain. In addition, the carcasses of pheasants (♂♀) fed the wheat diets were characterized by a higher weight of meat and fat and lower carcass meat and fat percentage.
