Western
Meeting of Poultry
Clinicians and Pathologists
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Clinicians and Pathologists
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Deep Pectoral Myopathy in Six-Week-Old Broiler Chicken Keith McMillan Lilydale Poultry
In June 1992, lesions similar to Deep Pectoral Myopathy, as described in turkey breeders, were observed in six-week-old broiler chicken. The lesions observed in birds at slaughter were not detected until the carcasses went through further processing to remove the breast muscle. Trace back of the birds narrowed their source down to one of the six barns on one farm. Other birds slaughtered earlier, from this farm, did not appear to be affected. No reasons for the problem were identified relative to the barn, although it is suspected a dog may have entered the barn and frightened the birds. Gross examination of the carcasses did not reveal any suspect pathology. Removal of the superficial pectoral muscle revealed the underlying green colored deep pectoral muscle with clear areas of demarkation between normal tissue and affected tissue. Histologically muscle fibers were necrotic and indistinguishable for the lesion described in turkey. It was assumed the lesions occurred recently enough that muscle atrophy had not yet occurred. Several reports of the condition in turkey were found in literature. The only report relative to meat chicken found, involved older roaster type birds (9-10 weeks old). There were no reports of the disease occurring in young six-week-old fryer type broilers. Although the circumstances which my stimulated the condition are unknown it can be speculated that the meat bird with its potential for prominent breast muscle development within the confines of its covering facea would be subject to ischemic necrosis like the turkey following excessive wing activity.
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