Application of real-time ultrasound technology to estimate in vivo breast muscle weight of broiler chickens

Author：

ISSN： 1466-1799

Source： British Poultry Science, Vol.48, Iss.2, 2007-04, pp. : 154-161

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

1. Real-time ultrasound (RTU) is a fast, non-destructive and relatively inexpensive technique to estimate body composition in animals. 2. A total of 835 Hubbard, Ross and Cobb broilers from different flocks were randomly selected, weighed and two RTU measurements were taken from both sides of their breast muscles (BM). Immediately following ultrasonography, broilers were processed and dissected to determine carcase, boneless BM, leg quarter and wing weights. Data were utilised to develop multiple linear regression equations (MLRE) to estimate carcase part weights. 3. Factors such as sex, age or genetic line did not contribute significantly to the accuracy of the models. The measurement in the right side was consistently more efficient than the left for estimating BM weight. 4. The following MLRE was estimated from live body weight (BW) and RTU area images: BM (g) = -94·3476 + 0·1518 * BW (g) + 5·1644 * BM-RTU area (cm2) (R2 = 0·97). 5. Due to the allometric relationships among body parts the following equations were also estimated: Legs (g) = -56·6738 + 0·2846 * BW (g) + 2·1570 * BM-RTU area (cm2) (R2 = 0·98) and Total Meat Cuts (g) = -142·0567 + 0·4638 * BW (g) + 5·1236 * BM-RTU area (cm2) (R2 = 0·99). 6. The results indicated that it was possible to estimate BM and other carcase cut weights with high accuracy from RTU measurements.