Morphometry of pectoral development in turkey breeding stock.
1. Musculo-skeletal development was measured in males and females of two genetic lines of turkey breeding stock: one line had been selected mainly for egg production (E-line) while the other had been selected for meat production as well as egg production (M-line). 2. The M-line had a more rapid growth of body weight and breast muscle weight than the E-line but breast muscle yield (breast muscle weight/body weight) did not differ between lines. 3. From an early age, breast length and keel length were longer in the M-line than in the E-line. 4. In older birds, keel depth was greater in the M-line than in the E-line. 5. No differences between lines were detected for depth of the pectoralis muscle, number of muscle fibres in the depth of the pectoralis, or muscle fibre cross sectional areas.
Swatland
H J
HJ
Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D024510:Muscle Development; D009929:Organ Size; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014422:Turkeys / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*