Growth rate of body weight and measurements in pheasants reared up to the 24th week of life (Short Communication)

Abstract. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the growth rate of the weight and body measurements of pheasants reared up to the 24th week of life, fed with all-mash mixtures. In the 3rd, 8th, 12th , 16th, 20th and 24th week of life the birds were weighed individually and their body measurements were measured based on which the growth rate indices of the traits researched were calculated. It was found that the body weight of pheasants of both sexes was increasing with the bird age, however there were noted no significant differences of that trait between the 16th and the 20th and the 20th and the 24th week of rearing. As for all the evaluation dates, except or the 3rd week of rearing, sexual dimorphism of the body weight was clearly seen, which was significant (P≤0.05). Similarly as the weight, also the pheasant body measurements were increasing on successive rearing dates. Between the 20th and the 24th week of rearing no significant differences were recorded in most of the traits evaluated. Sexual dimorphism concerning the body measurements was found in birds starting from the 12th or the 16th week of life. The highest growth rate of the body weight and measurements was observed in pheasants up to the 8th week of rearing. The growth rate of all the body measurements was decreasing after the 16th week of rearing, which shows that the pheasant growth was completed.