Characteristics of the pectoralis superficialis and semimembranosus of broiler strain chickens, bantam chickens, and the reciprocal crosses

Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-2772, USA.

At hatch, chicks from bantam sire x broiler dam (BaBr) matings were as heavy as those from broiler sire x broiler dam (BrBr) matings. Both were heavier than pure bantam chicks (BaBa) or chicks from broiler strain sires and bantam dams (BrBa), but weights of the latter two genotypes were identical. The Pectoralis superficialis and Semimembranosus of pure bantam chicks weighed less than those of pure broiler chicks throughout the studies. Muscle weights in the BaBr chicks were markedly heavier than those of genetically similar BrBa chicks at hatch. Genetic influences were quickly expressed and weights of muscles in these two groups had converged by 14 d of age. Myofiber cross-sectional areas at 1 d of age were not clearly associated with genotype or maternal environment, but clear patterns had begun to develop by 4 d of age. Myofiber area of both muscles was greater in BrBr than BaBa chicks by this age and after. Myofiber areas in the reciprocal crosses converged toward each other and away from the pure line chicks. By 11 d, the area of Pectoralis myofibers of BrBr chicks was greatest, those of the reciprocal crosses was intermediate and equal to each other, and that of BaBa chicks was least. A similar trend was apparent in Semimembranosus fibers by 11 d but the differences did not become significant until 21 d of age. Significant differences in myofiber number of the Semimembranosus were present (BrBr > BaBr > BrBa > BaBa). Thus, differences in muscle mass were the result of differences in both fiber number and fiber size.

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