The effect of the scaleless gene, sc, on growth performance and carcass composition of broilers.
Two experiments were conducted in which featherless broilers (scaleless, sc/sc) were compared with feathered broilers for growth and body composition characteristics at environmental temperatures of 22, 34, and 38 C. The sc gene reduces growth and efficiency at 22 C but at 38 C the sc/sc broilers gain more, eat more, and are more efficient than feathered broilers. They achieve greater live, New York dressed, and eviscerated weights and consistently have greater eviscerated yields. The sc/sc broilers have more protein and mineral content and less fat than the feathered broilers.
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005241:Feathers / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype