Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2009.631.636SekerogluA. DemirE. SaricaM. UlutasZ. 82009128A research was conducted to determine the influence of the conventional and the free-range broiler housing systems using female broiler chicks had low hatching weight on growth performance, breast meat characteristics and some blood plasma parameters. In the conventional (totally confined) housing system sixty one-day-old female Ross broiler chicks were placed in indoor floor pens with three replicates of 20 chicks. In the free-range (partly-confined) housing system, sixty one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were placed in indoor floor pens and also accessed to a grass paddock during 44 day experimental period after 7 days old. Birds of both systems were fed the same commercial broiler diet. The free-range housing system significantly decreased the total feed intake and body weight of broilers (p<0.05). The redness (a* color) and yellowness (b* color) in breast meat were affected by the housing systems (p<0.05). The housing systems had no affect on fatty acids composition of breast meat (p>0.05). The plasma triglyceride and VLDL levels of the conventional reared birds were significantly higher than those reared the free-range (p<0.05). In conclusion, longer growth period was necessary to the free-range reared broilers.]]>Barbosa Filho, J.A.D., M.A.N. Silva, I.J.O. Silva, A.A.D. Coello and V.J.M. Savino,20057209213Bennet, R.M.,1996139320321Bianchi, M. and D.L. Fletcher,20028117661769Bockisch, F.J., T. Jungbluth and A. Rudovsky,1999713863Castellini, C., A. Dal Bosco, C. Mugni and M. Bernardini,20021291300Castellini, C., C. Mugnai and A. Dal Bosco,200260219225Castellini, C.,20052005pp: 4752Dawkins, M.S., P.A. Cook, M.J. Whittingham, K.A. Mansell and A.E. Harper,2003In situ measurement of habitat preference.]]>66151160De Marchi, M., M. Cassandro, E. Lunardi, G. Baldan and P.B. Siegel,20054233238Fanatico, A.C., P.B. Pillai, L.C. Cavitt, C.M. Owens and J.L. Emmert,20058413211327Demir, E., S. Sarica, A. Sekeroglu, M.A. Ozcan and Y. Seker,200454152158Demir, E., K. Kilinc, Y. Yildirim, F. Dincer and H. Eseceli,200815463Farmer, L.J., G.C. Perry, P.D. Lewis, G.R. Nute, J.R. Piggott and R.L.S. Patterson,1997477793Folch, J., M. Lees and G.H.S. Stanley,1957226497509Gordon, S.H. and D.R. Charles,20021st Edn.,Husak, R.L., J.G. Sebranek and K. Bregendahl,20088723672376Le Bihan-Duval, E., N. Millet and H. Remignon,199978822826IUPAC.,19877th Edn.,Pages: 347Pages: 347Lima, A.M.C. and I.A. Nääs,20057215220McCurdy, R., S. Barbut and M. Quinton,199629363366Mendl, M.,199965221244Miltenburg, G.A.J., T. Wensing, F.J. Smulders and H.J. Breukink,19927027662772Ozdamar, K.,19992nd Edn.,Owens, C.M., E.M. Hirschler, S.R. McKee, R. Martinez-Dawson and A.R. Sams,200079553558Qiao, M., D.L. Fletcher, J.R. Northcutt and D.P. Smith,200281422427Petracci, M.L. and D.L. Fletcher,20028115891597Reiter, K.,20046898105Santos, A.L., N.K. Sakomura, E.R. Freitas, C.M.S. Fortes and E.N.V.M. Carrilho,200578592Sheu, K.S. and T.C. Chen,200255263269Sundrum, A.,200167207215Ward, J.M., D.C. Houston, G.D. Ruxton, D.J. McCafferty and P. Cook,2001Gallus domesticus) plumage: A comparison between broiler and free-range birds.]]>42558563