Effects of feed restriction on histopathological changes associated with white striping and wooden breast myopathies in pectoralis major muscle and meat quality characteristics in broiler chickens

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feed restriction on histopathological changes associated with white striping and wooden breast myopathies in pectoralis major muscle and meat quality characteristics in broiler chickens. In total, 600 male broiler chicks were randomly divided into five groups with 8 replicate pens (15 chicks/pen). Treatments consisted of control, treatment 1 (T1), treatment 2 (T2), treatment 3 (T3) and treatment 4 (T4). Control group was fed ad libitum throughout experimental period. T1 and T2 groups received feed as 80% and 70% of amount received by the control group from 11 to 24 days of age, respectively. T3 and T4 groups received feed as 80% and 70% of amount consumed by control group from 25 to 39 days of age, respectively. T2, T3, and T4 groups had lower slaughter weight, breast fillet weight, ultimate pH value, cooking loss, and intra muscular fat content than control group. T3 and T4 groups had lower myodegeneration occurence ratio and myodegenearation severity in pectoralis major muscle and also lower mean values for yellowness index, intramuscular moisture content, compared to control group. In conclusion, myodegeneration occurrence and severity in breast muscle tissue of broilers at 49 days of age could be decreased, and, thus, meat quality characteristics could be improved by feed restriction to 80% of ad libitum consumption from 25 to 39 d of age. However, this feeding program may result in some reduction in slaughter weight and breast fillet weight. Further studies in commercial conditions are required to develop the management and feeding strategies that may reduce the occurrence of these myopathies with minimal effect on production performance in broiler chickens.