Abstract:
A total of 60 Giribaz squabs of different ages (25-35 days) were purchased, slaughtered and allowed
to bleed properly. After dissection the parts of squab were weighed separately and recorded. It was
found that dressing percentage, total meat, breast meat, dark meat, wing meat, thigh meat, drumstick
meat, total bone, wing bone, thigh bone, drumstick bone and the ratio of breast and dark meat
(breast: dark meat) were 53.88, 18.97, 10.45, 8.54, 4.05, 2.41, 2.08, 10.41, 3.72 0.76, 0.88, and
1.22%, respectively. The average length of neck, wing bone, thigh bone, drumstick bone, elementary
tract and shank were 5.62, 8.67, 3.37, 5.05, 84.03, and 2.85cm, respectively. On the other hand, the
average weight of head, neck, heart, liver, gizzard, spleen, abdominal fat, back, skin and shank were
4.94, 1.79, 1.09, 3.14, 2.20, 0.10, 0.80, 3.31, 9.49, and 1.84%, respectively. Dressing percentage,
total meat, breast meat, dark meat were linearly increased (P<0.01) and gizzard and liver weight
were linearly decreased (P<0.01) with the increase of age and live weight. Ratio of breast and dark
meat, total bone, drumstick bone, head, neck, elementary tract length, back and shank weight did not
maintain (P>0.05) any relation with the increase of age and live weight. Despite smaller in size
(229.50g), the dressing percentage of squab was fairly higher (53.88%) and relative ratio of breast
and dark meat usually higher (1.22), because the growth of pectoral muscle (flying muscle) appeared
to be very fast growing in early life of squab. Further study is needed among different breeds and
varieties of pigeon available in Bangladesh for better performance.
