Broiler Wooden Breast myopathy: Underlying mechanisms, and maternal nutrition for alleviation

Broiler meat is healthy and environmentally friendly meat. Its production and consumption have increased globally and in Finland for several years, and it may turn to the largest meat commodity in the future. However, during the modern broiler growth there often appears muscle fibre degeneration and consequently muscle hardening in the breast muscles of the birds. The prevalence has become

frequent after 2010, and the defect cannot be detected earlier than after slaughter. The meat does not cause any health risk for humans but animal welfare problems (pain or distress) cannot be excluded. This project’s focus is on the elucidation of mechanisms at cellular level. Using growth experiments, we will study whether the feeding of broiler breeders has an effect of wooden breast prevalence. Maternal nutrition and effects of exercises on the development and prevalence of wooden breast syndrome will be studied. The study is conducted as a consortium of University of Helsinki and Natural Resources Institute Finland. The ultimate goal is to eliminate the wooden breast syndrome from the commercial poultry production as far as possible.