Zootechnical performance study and susceptibility to Avian Influenza virus H9N2 in a breed of crossbred chicken with intermediate growth

Poultry meat is the most widely consumed animal protein due to its low price compared to other animal products. However, the poultry sector is constantly experiencing progress improving the productivity and organoleptic quality of poultry meat. To responds the challenges of food security and the requirements of citizens and consumers, the present work consists to study the zootechnical performances as well as the sensitivity to the H9N2 virus of cross-breed chicken with intermediate growth (I), compared to two breeds fast growing (R) and slow growing (L) chickens. The results of the study showed zootechnical performances of race I with intermediate growth similar to those of fast growing chicken R. Indeed, the control group I recorded a GMH significantly elevated to that of the control group L. The index consumption of lot R and I is 50% lower than that of chicken L. Concerning the experimental infection with the H9N2 virus, the group of chicken I and R presented the most severe and accentuated clinical signs and gross lesions compared to chickens of the slow breed L.

Keywords: infection, H9N2, rapid growth, intermediate growth, slow growth, zootechnical performance