Breast muscle development in commercial broiler chickens

Genetic and gender-related variations in breast muscle yield of broiler chickens may be attributed to differences in number and size of muscle cells (myofibers). In this study, male and female broilers from eight commercial strain crosses (SC) were compared for body and breast muscle weight with adjustment of the Gompertz function. Additionally, breast fillet dimensions (length, width, and depth) and myofiber density (myofiber number/area; MFD) were assessed. Live weight and breast muscle development was determined to 56 d of age at weekly intervals. MFD was assessed at 8 d of age. As expected, SC differed in BW, breast weight and yield, and breast fillet dimensions and had variations in growth curves. Maximal growth rate for breast weight was reached approximately 4 d after that of BW. Males and females showed different growth curves, with males having slower growth rate maturity parameter and reaching the maximal growth rate later than females for BW and breast weight. Breast depth was the breast measure with highest positive correlation to breast yield. SC differences could not be explained by MFD, but males had higher MFD density than females. The possible relationship of the MFD observations to total myofiber number is discussed.