Abstract: This study aimed to assess the effect of the free-range mode in tea garden on the growth and slaughtering performance of Yaoshan chickens. A total of 120 30-day-old Yaoshan chickens with the similar body weight were selected and randomly divided into two groups （n=60 for each group）. There were 6 repeats in each group with 10 chickens in each repeat. The chickens in the two separate group were free-range reared in tea garden and sloping fields, respectively. The chickens were slaughtered at the age of 90 days, and the indicators associated with growth and slaughtering performance of the two groups were determined and statistically compared. The results showed that the Yaoshan chickens reared in sloping fields had lower 90-day-old body weight, significantly lower average daily gain （P<0.05） and higher feed gain ratio compared to those reared in tea garden; the slaughtering weight, semi-net weight, total net weight, leg muscle weight and lean meat rate of the 90-day-old Yaoshan chickens reared in tea garden were higher than those reared in sloping fields, but no significant differences were observed （P>0.05）; significantly higher liver weight and spleen weight were observed in tea garden reared group than sloping fields reared group （P<0.05）; the Yaoshan chickens reared in tea garden had significantly higher content of histidine, arginine and inosinic acid compared to their counterparts reared in sloping fields （P<0.05）, and no significant differences in the other tested nutritional component between the two groups were observed （P>0.05）. It was indicated that the free-range rearing in tea garden was more conducive to the growth of Yaoshan chickens compared to the free-range rearing in sloping fields.

Key words: Yaoshan chickens, rearing mode, growth performance, slaughter performance