Effects of feeding whole-grain triticale and sex on carcass and meat characteristics of common pheasants

AbstractThe aim of the present research has been to determine the effect of replacing a part of commercial compound feed with whole triticale grain on the body weight (BW), body measurements, feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass composition and meat quality of pheasants. The study involved 80 one-d-old common pheasants. From 71 to 112 d of rearing, two diets were administered: a complete commercial diet ad libitum for control pheasants and restricted amounts of a commercial diet (50%) and whole triticale grain (50%) for experimental pheasants. Each treatment consisted of 4 replications, 10 birds each. Introducing whole triticale grain did not cause significant changes in BW, body measurements, feed intake and FCR. The carcasses of 112-d-old pheasants fed whole triticale grain diet showed a significantly lower breast muscle content (%) and a significantly higher content of skin with subcutaneous fat and carcass remainders (p < .05). Breast muscles of pheasants fed commercial compound feed and whole tritica...