Internal organ and skeletal muscle development in commercial broilers with woody breast myopathy

Increasing growth rate, body weight, and breast muscle yield have been linked to broiler muscle problems such as woody breast (WB). The aim of this study was to investigate the internal organ and skeletal muscle development of broilers with WB myopathy under dietary and Eimeria challenge treatments. A 3 diet (control, antibiotic, or probiotic) × 2 challenge (control or Eimeria) × 2 sex factorial arrangement of treatments was used in a randomized complete block design. Ross × Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to 96 floor pens with 12 treatment combinations (8 replicates per treatment). Internal organs were sampled on d 13 and 41. Skeletal muscles were sampled on d 41. Internal organ and skeletal muscle weights were analyzed using a 3-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Relationships between WB and internal organ and skeletal muscle weights were analyzed using one-way ANOVA as all treatments were pooled together and regrouped according to WB scores. On d 41, absolute and relative heart weights were greater in males when they were averaged over diet and challenge treatments (P < 0.001 and P = 0.026, respectively). The birds with WB score 3 had greater absolute heart (P = 0.0002) and spleen weights (P = 0.016), but there was no difference in relative spleen weight (P > 0.05). When averaged over diet and challenge treatments, males have greater absolute duodenum, jejunum, and ileum weights (for all P < 0.0001). Compared with birds with normal breasts, the birds with WB scores 1, 2, and 3 had a greater live weight (for all P < 0.0001) and absolute and relative breast weights (for all P < 0.0001). The birds with WB score 1, 2, and 3 had greater (P < 0.0001) absolute but lower (P < 0.0001) relative drumstick, thigh, and wing weights. Results indicated that broilers with WB had lower relative proventriculus and gizzard weights and greater relative breast meat weight with lower relative drumstick, thigh, and wing muscle weights.