Carcass Characteristics of Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia domestica) in the Northern Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study was conducted to characterise carcass traits of domestic pigeons in the northern region of Ghana. Data was collected on 30 matured domestic pigeons consisting of 15 males and 15 females from six plumage colour varieties. These birds were intensively managed and fed with broiler mash. The pigeons were slaughtered according to standard abattoir procedures and carcass parameters recorded were preslaughter weight, dressed weight, deplumed weight, breast weight, thigh weight, back weight, wing weight, drumstick weight and giblets (whole heart weight, liver and gizzard) weight. Carcass data were analyzed using the GLM of SPSS to investigate the effect of sex and plumage colour variety on carcass measurements. Pigeon lost 11.6% of live body weight after bleeding. The effect of sex was found to be a significant (p<0.05) source of variation for preslaughter weight, dressed weight and heart weight. Except for back, lung and gizzard weights on which plumage colour varieties had significant effect (p < 0.05), all other carcass parameters were not influenced (P > 0.05) by plumage colour variety. In conclusion, male pigeons generally had significantly higher carcass characteristics (pre-slaughter weight, dressed weight and heart weight) than their female counterparts irrespective of the colour varieties in various parts of the northern region.