Assessment of meat quality attributes of four commercial broiler strains processed at various market weights.

As the demand for poultry meat continues to rise, industry production is constantly challenged with obtaining consumer needs. Integrators have answered this increasing demand by improving the growth rate of broilers allowing for increased production efficiently. The resulting broiler produces higher yields and a larger quantity of fresh poultry to satisfy consumer needs. However, this increase in efficiency has cost integrators as new quality issues continue to manifest through global production. Therefore, the objective of the current experiment was to evaluate the effect of genetic strain (standard and high yielding) and target weight on meat quality attributes such as pH, water holding capacity (WHC), and tenderness, alongside meat quality defects such as breast and tender myopathies. In the current study, 1,800 broilers from 4 commercial strains (2 high breast yielding (HY) and 2 standard yielding (SY) were raised sex separate to evaluate meat quality trends over time at 6 previously defined market weights. Birds were processed at weights ranging from 2,043 to 4,313 g in 454 g increments. HY strains produced higher breast and tender yields than those of SY strains (P < 0.05). There was an increase in breast and tender yield as target weight increased (P < 0.05) for both HY and SY strains. Differences were observed between strains for all fillet dimensions (P < 0.05); however, these measurements increased as target weight increased as expected. Woody breast (WB) had a higher severity (P < 0.05) in HY strains over SY strains, for both males and females. Differences were observed in white striping (WS; P < 0.05) for females in both strains, but no differences were observed in males. A main effect of target was noticed for both WB and WS (P < 0.05), expressing increased severity as target weight increased. Shear values were influenced more by target weight (P < 0.05), but inconsistent differences were observed between HY and SY groups. Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear (MORS) energy values increased slightly as target weights increased (P < 0.05) from 2,951 to 4,313 g in both males and females, but differences were minor and inconsistent with the smaller carcass weights. The MORS peak counts generally increased as target weight increased for both sexes. While strain had minimal effects on meat quality attributes, processing weight had a greater influence on quality, specifically muscle myopathies, WHC, and shear properties.

Techniques for in vivo assessment of myopathies in broiler chicken breasts using a biopsy as a support tool.

An experiment was conducted to validate non-invasive evaluation techniques as in vivo evaluation tools for the myopathies wooden breast and white striping that affect broilers, using biopsy as a support tool. It evaluated 30 Cobb 500® broiler chickens in a completely randomized design consisting of two sexes (males and females) and 15 replications per treatment. At 14, 21, 35, 42 and 49 days, the surface temperature of the birds' breasts was recorded using infrared thermography, analysis of fillet depth, and echogenicity by ultrasound imaging. All broiler chickens were sent for biopsy at 21, 35 and 42 days to collect a fragment of the pectoral muscle for descriptive morphological analyses of histological lesions and muscle fibre morphometry. Males had higher echogenicity values at 14, 21 and 42 days. There was no influence of bird sex on the occurrence of the wooden breast and white striping myopathies at 49 days of age in broilers selected and submitted to the biopsy protocol. There was a general trend of decreasing surface temperature for both sexes according to their age. Muscles with less area occupied with fibres had a lower surface temperature. It was concluded that ultrasonography with a 3.5 MHz transducer detects muscle changes after 28 days of age, which is consistent with the myopathic lesions studied. Infrared thermography is a potential method for detecting changes in breast temperature indicating myopathic lesions. A biopsy can be used as an auxiliary tool in the study of myopathies in broiler chicken breasts.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Detection of changes in the breast muscle after 28 days of age with ultrasonography.Changes in the surface temperature range of pectoral muscle with infrared thermography.Use of biopsy as a tool for early diagnostic evaluation in broiler myopathies.

Evaluation of the use of muscle condition score and ultrasonographic measurements for assessment of muscle mass in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of muscle condition score (MCS) in dogs with various degrees of muscle loss; to compare MCS, muscle ultrasonographic measurements, and quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) measurements; and to identify cutoff values for ultrasonographic measurements of muscle that can be used to identify dogs with cachexia and sarcopenia. ANIMALS: 40 dogs of various age, body condition score (BCS), and MCS. PROCEDURES: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Body weight, BCS, QMR measurements, thoracic radiographic measurements, and muscle ultrasonographic measurements were assessed once in each dog. The MCS for each dog was assessed 3 separate times by 4 separate raters. RESULTS: For the MCS, overall κ for interrater agreement was 0.50 and overall κ for intrarater agreement ranged from 0.59 to 0.77. For both interrater and intrarater agreement, κ coefficients were higher for dogs with normal muscle mass and severe muscle loss and lower for dogs with mild and moderate muscle loss. The MCS was significantly correlated with age (r = -0.62), vertebral epaxial muscle score (VEMS; r = 0.71), forelimb epaxial muscle score (FLEMS; r = 0.58), and BCS (r = 0.73), and VEMS was significantly correlated (r = 0.84) with FLEMS. Cutoff values for identification of mild muscle loss determined by use of VEMS and FLEMS were 1.124 and 1.666, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: MCS had substantial repeatability and moderate reproducibility for assessment of muscle mass in dogs. Prospective studies of MCS, VEMS, and FLEMS for assessment of muscle mass in dogs are warranted.

Temporal characterization of wooden breast myopathy ("woody breast") severity and correlation with growth rate and lymphocytic phlebitis in three commercial broiler strains and a random-bred broiler strain.

Wooden breast myopathy (WBM), or "woody breast" or "wooden breast" affects modern, rapidly growing, high breast-yield broiler chickens. Decreased meat quality due to undesirable organoleptic properties and condemnation of affected breast meat cause economic losses. The pathogenesis of WBM remains unknown. In this study, WBM lesion development was determined in three modern broiler strains and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB) broilers, a 1950s unselected broiler chicken. Correlations between WBM severity and incubation temperature profile, sex, strain, body weight, and lymphocytic phlebitis were also determined. At 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age, samples of breast muscle from 10 male and 10 female birds from each strain, incubated under optimal or low-early, high-late temperatures, were scored histologically for severity of WBM and lymphocytic phlebitis. WBM lesions, identified as early as 2 weeks, became progressively more severe with age and growth in the three commercial broiler strains. WBM severity was significantly correlated with lymphocytic phlebitis and body weight. Lymphocytic phlebitis and minimal WBM were present in the ACRB broilers at all samplings, but did not progress in severity over time. There were no significant differences in severity of WBM among the commercial broiler strains, between sexes, or between incubation temperature profiles. The positive correlation between WBM severity and lymphocytic phlebitis indicates vascular injury is likely an important factor in the pathogenesis. Mild muscle lesions in ACRB birds without overt clinical signs indicate subclinical muscle disease may have been present in broilers prior to the description of WBM.

Polymorphisms of RDH16 and VEGFR1 influence M. trapezius steatosis in Japanese Black carcass.

The exact cause of steatosis, one of defects in Japanese beef carcasses, has not been elucidated to date, because it is very difficult to diagnose cyclopedically with certain reproducibility due to the bias in the outbreak. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the influence of polymorphisms in retinol dehydrogenase 16 (RDH16), myoferlin (MYOF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 and 2 (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) on carcass-graded Musculus trapezius steatosis. For logistic regression analysis, 646 carcasses shipped from 29 farms in Miyazaki, Japan, were used. The GG genotype in RDH16 showed significant odds ratios against AA and AG. In VEGFR1, CT had a significant odds ratio against CC. After evaluating for interaction, highly significant odds ratios were observed in the combinations that included the GG risk genotype in RDH16. It is noteworthy that there was no steatosis in the combination GG (RDH16) and CC (VEGFR1). It may be concluded that there is a possibility that steatosis can be suppressed by the CC genotype in VEGFR1. The current study revealed the influence of genetic polymorphisms on M. trapezius steatosis that had not been reported until now, and may help elucidate the cause of steatosis.

Multi-frequency bioimpedance in equine muscle assessment.

Multi-frequency BIA (mfBIA) equipment has been shown to be a non-invasive and reliable method to assess a muscle as a whole or at fibre level. In the equine world this may be the future method of assessment of training condition or of muscle injury. The aim of this study was to test if mfBIA reliably can be used to assess the condition of a horse's muscles in connection with health assessment, injury and both training and re-training. mfBIA measurements was carried out on 10 'hobby' horses and 5 selected cases with known anamnesis. Impedance, resistance, reactance, phase angle, centre frequency, membrane capacitance and both extracellular and intracellular resistance were measured. Platinum electrodes in connection with a conductance paste were used to accommodate the typical BIA frequencies and to facilitate accurate measurements. Use of mfBIA data to look into the effects of myofascial release treatment was also demonstrated. Our findings indicate that mfBIA provides a non-invasive, easily measurable and very precise assessment of the state of muscles in horses. This study also shows the potential of mfBIA as a diagnostic tool as well as a tool to monitor effects of treatment e.g. myofascial release therapy and metabolic diseases, respectively.

Traditional and quantitative assessment of acid-base and shock variables in horses with atypical myopathy.

BACKGROUND: Descriptions of acid-base disturbances in atypical myopathy (AM) are limited. OBJECTIVES: Describe and compare traditional and quantitative acid-base abnormalities and cardiovascular shock status in horses with AM at admission. ANIMALS: 34 horses with AM, 15 healthy controls. METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Records were searched for shock variables (packed cell volume [PCV], blood urea nitrogen [BUN], heart and respiratory rate) and acid-base variables (venous blood gas analysis, electrolytes, total protein, lactate) on admission. Base excess (BE) of free water (BEfw), chloride (BEcl), total protein (BEtp), and unidentified anions (BEua), anion gap (AG), measured strong ion difference (SIDm), and concentration of total nonvolatile weak acids ([Atot]) were calculated. Acid-base classifications, using simplified strong ion model and traditional approach, and shock grades were assigned. A 2-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Bonferroni correction compared variables in AM cases versus control horses. Significance was P < .05/16 for acid-base and P < .05/5 for shock variables. RESULTS: Tachycardia, tachypnea, and normal to increased PCV and BUN were common in AM cases. Respiratory, metabolic acid-base alterations, or both were mainly caused by respiratory alkalosis, lactic acidosis, and SIDm alkalosis, alone or in combination. Evaluated variables (except pH, potassium concentration, total protein, and related calculations) were significantly different (P < .001) between AM cases and control horses. The strong ion model provided a more accurate assessment than the traditional approach and identified mixed derangements. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Acid-base derangements should be evaluated in horses with AM and this preferably with the strong ion model.

Management and assessment of prognosis after gastrocnemius disruption in Thoroughbred foals: 28 cases (1993-2007).

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Few studies have evaluated the athletic prognosis of foals affected by gastrocnemius disruption. OBJECTIVE: To examine the diagnosis and management of gastrocnemius disruption in Thoroughbred (TB) foals, determine short-term survival rate and assess future racing performance. The hypothesis was that Thoroughbred foals with gastrocnemius disruption are able to perform as racehorses comparably to their age matched maternal siblings. METHODS: The medical records of foals diagnosed with gastrocnemius muscle disruption were reviewed. Information on training and racing was acquired from published works and race records. Paired t tests were utilised to compare performance variables of affected racehorses to their maternal siblings in starts, earnings and earnings/start for their 2- and 3-year-old racing seasons. Fisher's exact tests were employed to determine the association between sex, limb affected, age on admission, degree of caudal reciprocal apparatus dysfunction, concurrent disease, antibiotic therapy, complications, abscess formation and likelihood of entering training or starting a race. RESULTS: Sample size was too small to detect significant differences in performance variables between affected horses and controls. Of 28 foals, 17 (61%) presented with concomitant illness; foals without concurrent disease were more likely to achieve race training or start a race (P = 0.04); 23 (82%) were short-term survivors defined as survival to discharge. Of these 23 survivors, 7 were aged <2 years at the time of the study. Eighty-one percent (13/16) of the survivors that were of racing age were in training or had started a race. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, 82% of TB foals affected with gastrocnemius disruption were able to achieve training or start a race. Foals presenting for gastrocnemius disruption have a high prevalence of concurrent disease processes. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The assessment of athletic prognosis and treatment complications provides useful information to clinicians treating gastrocnemius muscle disruption in foals and making recommendations to clientele.

Comparison of blood aminotransferase methods for assessment of myopathy and hepatopathy in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).

Muscle injury is common in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is frequently used to assess muscular damage in capture myopathy and traumatic injury. Therefore, accurate measurement of AST and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is important in managed, free-ranging animals, as well as in those rehabilitating from injury. Activities of these enzymes, however, are usually not increased in manatees with either acute or chronic muscle damage, despite marked increases in plasma creatine kinase activity. It is hypothesized that this absence of response is due to apoenzymes in the blood not detected by commonly used veterinary assays. Addition of coenzyme pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P or vitamin B6) should, therefore, result in higher measured enzyme activities. The objective of this study was to determine the most accurate, precise, and diagnostically useful method for aminotransferase measurement in manatees that can be used in veterinary practices and diagnostic laboratories. Additionally, appropriate collection and storage techniques were assessed. The use of an optimized commercial wet chemical assay with 100 micromol P5P resulted in a positive bias of measured enzyme activities in a healthy population of animals. However, AST and ALT were still much lower than that typically observed in domestic animals and should not be used alone in the assessment of capture myopathy and muscular trauma. Additionally, the dry chemistry analyzer, typically used in clinics, reported significantly higher and less precise AST and ALT activities with poor correlation to those measured with wet chemical methods found in diagnostic laboratories. Therefore, these results cannot be clinically compared. Overall, the optimized wet chemical method was the most precise and diagnostically useful measurement of aminotransferase in samples. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between paired serum and plasma measurement, indicating that separate reference intervals should be established for serum and plasma. Finally, storage of these enzymes at -70 degrees C for 1 mo resulted in up to a 25% decrease in enzymatic activity in manatee plasma.

Assessment of serum thyroid hormone concentrations in lambs with selenium deficiency myopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in serum concentrations of thyroid hormones associated with selenium deficiency myopathy in lambs. ANIMALS: 35 lambs with selenium deficiency myopathy and 30 healthy lambs. PROCEDURES: Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture from lambs with selenium deficiency myopathy and healthy lambs. Activities of markers of selenium deficiency myopathy (erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] and plasma creatine kinase [CK]) and serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and total thyroxine (tT(4)) and total triiodothyronine (tT(3)) concentrations were assessed; values in affected lambs were compared with those in healthy lambs. Correlations of erythrocyte GSH-Px and plasma CK activities with serum concentrations of TSH, tT(4), and tT(3) were investigated, and the tT(3):tT(4) concentration ratio was evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with findings in healthy lambs, erythrocyte GSH-Px activity, serum tT(3) concentration, and tT(3):tT(4) concentration ratio were significantly decreased and serum concentrations of tT(4) and TSH and the activity of plasma CK were significantly increased in affected lambs. Analysis revealed a significant negative correlation in the affected group between erythrocyte GSH-Px activity and each of the following: plasma CK activity (r = -0.443), serum TSH concentration (r = -0.599), serum tT(4) concentration (r = -0.577), and serum tT(3) concentration (r = -0.621). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that notable changes in circulating amounts of thyroid hormones develop in association with selenium deficiency in lambs. Such alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism may be involved in the high incidence of disorders, such as stillbirths and neonatal deaths, in selenium-deficient flocks.

Epidemiologic characteristics and management of polysaccharide storage myopathy in Quarter Horses.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize onset and clinical signs of polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) in a well-defined population of affected Quarter Horses, identify risk factors for PSSM, determine compliance of owners to dietary and exercise recommendations, and evaluate the efficacy of dietary and exercise recommendations. ANIMALS: 40 Quarter Horses with PSSM and 37 unaffected control horses. PROCEDURES: Owners of horses with PSSM completed a retrospective questionnaire concerning their horse's condition. RESULTS: Between horses with PSSM and control horses, no significant differences were found in sex distribution (21 vs 15 females and 16 vs 22 males, respectively), temperament, muscle build, diet, or amount of turnout. In horses with PSSM, signs of muscle stiffness, muscle fasciculations, sweating, exercise intolerance, weakness, muscle wasting, reluctance to move, colic, abnormal gait, recumbency, lameness, and swollen muscles began between the age of 1 day and 14 years (mean age, 4.9 +/- 3.5 years). Five horses with PSSM developed acute muscle atrophy. Sixty-three percent (25/40) of owners fed the recommended diet, 55% (22/40) provided regular exercise, and 40% (16/40) followed both dietary and exercise recommendations. Owners of affected horses for which a decrease in severity or frequency of PSSM was not found did not follow the exercise, dietary, or both recommendations. All horses for which both dietary and exercise recommendations were followed had improvement in signs of PSSM. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: n addition to exertional rhabdomyolysis, signs of PSSM include acute muscle atrophy and gait abnormalities. It appears that PSSM can be managed by following dietary recommendations combined with gradual increases in daily exercise.

[Comparative studies on looking into lacertus fibrosis and aponeurosis of the bicipitis brachii muscle as well as assessment of the biceps brachii and bracialis muscles in sheep, goats and wild deer]. / Vergleichende Untersuchungen zum Vorkommen eines Lacertus fibrosus und einer Aponeurosis m. bicipitis brachii sowie zu den Ansätzen der Mm. biceps brachii und brachialis bei Schaf, Ziege und Damwild.

In 34 anatomical specimens of sheep, goat and fallow deer the development of the cranial brachial and antebrachial fascia as well as the occurrence of a lacertus fibrosus and of structures, that are homologous with the aponeurosis m. bicipitis brachii hominis, were studied. Additionally, the attachments of the m. biceps brachii and the m. brachialis were dissected. In sheep, goat and fallow deer the superficial layer of the fascia brachii et antebrachii is weakly developed. Its deeper stratum, originating in the tuberositas deltoidea as well as in the crista humeri, and on the forearm interspersing with the fascia of the m. extensor carpi radialis, is of a more robust composition. In goat and fallow deer a remarkable ligamentous bracing of this fascial layer stresses its cranial aspect. The lacertus fibrosus intermingles in all three species with the cranial fascia antebrachii respectively with the tendon of the m. extensor carpi radialis. While in sheep and goat its emergence from the m. biceps brachii is obviously bipartite, in fallow deer this part of the lacertus fibrosus is undivided. Moreover, in all three species a muscular and/or tendinous connection between the m. biceps brachii and the m. pronator teres exists, that is homologous with the aponeurosis m. bicipitis brachii hominis. In sheep, goat and fallow deer the m. biceps brachii attaches with each one tendon to the tuberositas radii and the processus coronoideus med. ulnae. Frequently in sheep, but rarely in goat the ulnar tendon extends its area of attachment to the radius.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Costs of veterinary services and vaccines/drugs used for prevention and treatment of diseases in 60 Tennessee cow-calf operations (1987-1988).

Four percent of the total cost of disease in 60 Tennessee cow-calf herds in 1987 to 1988 was attributable to veterinary services, and 2.3% was attributable to the purchase of drugs to treat sick animals. When producers spent money on therapeutic veterinary services, it was most often attributable to diseases of the reproductive system ($0.69/cow annually), especially dystocia ($0.51/cow annually). When drugs were used therapeutically, the most was spent on products to treat respiratory tract disease ($0.37/cow annually). The cost of preventive veterinary services accounted for 8.8% of the total cost of preventive actions. Pregnancy examinations (considered here as a preventive action) was the most costly preventive service ($0.62/cow annually). The cost of drugs and biologicals used to prevent disease accounted for 69.4% of the total cost of preventive actions, with drugs to prevent intestinal and external parasites being the most costly ($7.79/cow annually). These figures are based on cow-calf herds randomly selected by use of a 2-stage, stratified plan. Herds were visited once a month for 1 year. Results of this study support other work that showed that beef producers perceive veterinarians as primary sources of information on diagnosis and treatment of sick animals and on reproduction/breeding, but less knowledgeable or cost effective in the areas of animal/herd management, feed nutrition, and agribusiness/economics.