Growth and development of young game pheasants (Phasianus colchicus)

Abstract. Fifty game pheasants were kept to 8 weeks in confinement housing and later maintained outdoors in a partially roofed aviary. Pheasants received commercial feed mixtures ad libitum. Body weight and dimensions were determined every 4 weeks. Ten pheasants were selected for slaughter at the end of 18 and 20 weeks each. After slaughter, their heads, shanks, feathers, blood, inedible viscera and major internal organs were weighed and digestive tract separated and measured. The carcasses were dissected. Higher body weights and daily gains were found in males than in females on all test days during rearing to 20 weeks of age. Compared to females, males had significantly longer keel from 4 weeks, longer lower thighs and shanks from 8 weeks, and longer trunk with and without neck and greater chest circumference from 12 weeks of age. Older pheasants had a significantly lower proportion of feathers and blood, and higher content of inedible viscera, with significantly relatively shorter (cm 100 g b.w.⁻¹) small intestine, caecum and rectum in males than in females. With advancing age, there was a decrease in the proportion of gizzard (significant) and liver, and in males a significant increase in the proportion of testicles.