Morphometry of pectoral development in Turkey breeding stock

Abstract

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.