<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This study examined pathomorphological changes and meat quality alterations associated with Wooden Breast Myopathy (WB) in total of 192 broiler chickens divided into Ross 308 (n=96) and Cobb 500 (n=96) heavy hybrids at ages 42, 60, and 70 days. WB occurrence remained consistently high (>73%) across periods, peaking on day 70 (83% for Ross, 90% for Cobb). Cobb broilers had better production results and carcass traits parameters after day 42 and day 60 of the experiment (p≤0.05). Genotype did not affect WB occurrence or severity, while slaughter age influenced severe cases WB occurrence, increasing from 11.67% on day 42 to 36.67% on day 70 (p=0.003). The presence of WB was associated with higher ultimate pH, lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) of the muscle (p&lt;0.0001), except on day 70. Physicochemical and color parameters were also influenced by slaughter age (p&lt;0.0001). On day 42, drip loss (p&lt;0.0001), cooking loss (p≤0.05) and shear force (p&lt;0.0001) were affected by genotype. On days 60 and 70, the differences in water retention capacity were observed only between normal and severely affected breasts (p&lt;0.0001). For each slaughter age severely affected WB had higher shear force compared to normal breasts (p&lt;0.0001). Additionally, with the increasing slaughter age of broilers, drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force of the breast meat were increased (p&lt;0.0001). The results obtained regarding the occurrence and severity of WB and its consequent meat quality alterations suggest that extended fattening is not recommended for poultry production.</p>
</abstract>

This study examined pathomorphological changes and meat quality alterations associated with Wooden Breast Myopathy (WB) in total of 192 broiler chickens divided into Ross 308 (n=96) and Cobb 500 (n=96) heavy hybrids at ages 42, 60, and 70 days. WB occurrence remained consistently high (>73%) across periods, peaking on day 70 (83% for Ross, 90% for Cobb). Cobb broilers had better production results and carcass traits parameters after day 42 and day 60 of the experiment (p≤0.05). Genotype did not affect WB occurrence or severity, while slaughter age influenced severe cases WB occurrence, increasing from 11.67% on day 42 to 36.67% on day 70 (p=0.003). The presence of WB was associated with higher ultimate pH, lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) of the muscle (p<0.0001), except on day 70. Physicochemical and color parameters were also influenced by slaughter age (p<0.0001). On day 42, drip loss (p<0.0001), cooking loss (p≤0.05) and shear force (p<0.0001) were affected by genotype. On days 60 and 70, the differences in water retention capacity were observed only between normal and severely affected breasts (p<0.0001). For each slaughter age severely affected WB had higher shear force compared to normal breasts (p<0.0001). Additionally, with the increasing slaughter age of broilers, drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force of the breast meat were increased (p<0.0001). The results obtained regarding the occurrence and severity of WB and its consequent meat quality alterations suggest that extended fattening is not recommended for poultry production.

Pathomorphological and Meat Quality Alterations Connected with Wooden Breast in Broiler Chickens of Different Genotypes and Slaughter Ages

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Department of Food Hygiene and Technology

Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animal and Environment (DAFNAE)

University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This study examined pathomorphological changes and meat quality alterations associated with Wooden Breast Myopathy (WB) in total of 192 broiler chickens...

Pathomorphological and Meat Quality Alterations Connected with Wooden Breast in Broiler Chickens of Different Genotypes and Slaughter Ages

Article Category: Research article

Publicado en línea: 24 jun 2024

Páginas: 183 - 209

Recibido: 05 abr 2024

Aceptado: 30 may 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2024-0013

Palabras clave
broiler chicken, wooden breast myopathy, myodegeneration, meat quality, prolonged fattening

© 2024 Antonija Rajčić et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Pathomorphological and Meat Quality Alterations Connected with Wooden Breast in Broiler Chickens of Different Genotypes and Slaughter Ages

Article Category: Research article

Publicado en línea: 24 jun 2024

Páginas: 183 - 209

Recibido: 05 abr 2024

Aceptado: 30 may 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/acve-2024-0013

Palabras clavebroiler chicken, wooden breast myopathy, myodegeneration, meat quality, prolonged fattening

© 2024 Antonija Rajčić et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Palabras clave
broiler chicken, wooden breast myopathy, myodegeneration, meat quality, prolonged fattening