TUCKER, GA – USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation announce the completion of a funded research project at Auburn University regarding the finding of a potential marker for selecting broilers against susceptibility of deep pectoral myopathy, commonly called “green muscle.” The project is part of the Association’s comprehensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. A brief summary of the completed project is shown below. A complete report, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained by going to USPOULTRY’s website, www.uspoultry.org. The project summary is as follows:
Project #664: Using Forced Wing Exercise to Investigate Broiler Susceptibility to Deep Pectoral Myopathy and Associated Changes in Plasma Creatine Kinase
(Dr. Roger J. Lien, Dr. Sarge F. Bilgili and Dr. Joe B. Hess, Auburn University)Deep pectoral myopathy, commonly called “green muscle”, is a condition in which the breast tender of
broilers is found at processing to be discolored. This meat must be trimmed and condemned. It is estimated that 0.5% of breast tenders are condemned because of green muscle, at a loss of $50 million per year. Researchers at Auburn University, led by Dr. Roger Lien, recently completed a research project funded by USPOULTRY in which they were able to define some of the factors involved in causing this condition, including broiler strain, broiler gender, and the temperature at which the birds were raised. Particularly important, the scientists found that the level of a certain serum enzyme correlated with the development of deep pectoral myopathy and suggested this enzyme might be used as a marker for genetic selection of broiler strains less susceptible to the condition.
For an industry summary of the research, click here.
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is an all-feather organization representing the complete spectrum of today’s poultry industry, with a focus on progressively serving member companies through research, education, communication, and technical assistance. Founded in 1947, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is based in Tucker, GA.
Source: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association