The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of environmental temperature and feeding restriction programs on performance, carcass and noble cuttings yields and fat, water and protein contents of the carcass, and also the liver glycogen content of broiler chickens under different environmental conditions. A completely randomized block experimental design, in a 5 x 2 (feeding program versus sex) factorial arrangement with two replicates within each environmental and 14 birds per experimental plot, was used. At 42 days of age, the temperature and sex negatively affected the intake and weight gain, but the feeding restriction program did not affect them. Temperature, feeding restriction programs and sex did not affect the carcass and noble cutting yields. The feeding restriction programs and the temperature did not affect the carcass fat, water and protein contents. As for sex, the females presented the highest fat contents in the carcass. The glycogen liver contents were negatively affected by the feeding restriction programs and by the sex, however were not affected by the temperature.
abdominal fat; broiler chickens; carcass and noble cuttings yields; feeding restriction programs; sex; temperature; total fat
