Abstract
Breast weight is one of the most economically important traits in the poultry industry, but direct selection for weight is expensive. The use of ultrasonography enables in vivo measurements of the broiler’s breast muscle size, which may be much more feasible for broiler selection. Previous studies of broilers concluded that ultrasound of the breast muscle is feasible and favorable for meat production. According to previously obtained genetic parameters, breast weight could be efficiently improved by ultrasound of the breast muscle. The use of ultrasonography for the indirect selection of breast weight does not affect the body composition or meat quality of broilers, despite the meat’s paleness and shear force; therefore, the use of ultrasound as a selection criterion might be a useful monitoring tool. Studies on the utilization of ultrasound in broiler breeding programs allow a better understanding of the relationship between traits of economic interest and the establishment of the selection schemes.
Highlights
In the last few decades, the Brazilian broiler production industry has made great progress, which is mainly due to the selection of specific traits of commercial interest
This selection can be used for traits that have been previously identified as being favorably associated with breast weight and may facilitate the early removal of poor quality broilers
It has been reported that selection for higher breast weight has modified the glycolytic potential of the muscle cells in broilers, which tends to increase protein denaturation and the incidence of the PSE condition in broiler meat
Summary
In the last few decades, the Brazilian broiler production industry has made great progress, which is mainly due to the selection of specific traits of commercial interest. Individual selection is usually performed in juveniles [2] and is called pre-selection This selection can be used for traits that have been previously identified as being favorably associated with breast weight (e.g., ultrasound records of breast muscle) and may facilitate the early removal of poor quality broilers. These associations may be evaluated by phenotypic and genetic correlations [3,4]. Current approaches enable us to better appreciate the efficiency of the breast muscle ultrasound as a selection criterion in addition to genetic relationships with body composition and meat quality traits
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