Growth, efficiency, and yield of commercial broilers from 1957, 1978, and 2005

2014/09/27 by M.J. Zuidhof, B.L. Schneider, V.L. Carney +2 · 3 voices · 863 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Immunology and Microbiology · Mathematics · #Abdominal fat #Allometry #Animal Nutrition and Physiology #Animal science #Biology #Bird parasitology and diseases #Body weight #Broiler #Ecology #Feed conversion ratio #Gompertz function #Growth rate #Livestock and Poultry Management #Mathematics #Residual feed intake

paper · pdf · doi:10.3382/ps.2014-04291

published in Poultry Science 93(12), 2970-2982 (Elsevier BV)

openalex publication_date 2014/09/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

The effect of commercial selection on the growth, efficiency, and yield of broilers was studied using 2 University of Alberta Meat Control strains unselected since 1957 and 1978, and a commercial Ross 308 strain (2005). Mixed-sex chicks (n = 180 per strain) were placed into 4 replicate pens per strain, and grown on a current nutritional program to 56 d of age. Weekly front and side profile photographs of 8 birds per strain were collected. Growth rate, feed intake, and measures of feed efficiency including feed conversion ratio, residual feed intake, and residual maintenance energy requirements were characterized. A nonlinear mixed Gompertz growth model was used to predict BW and BW variation, useful for subsequent stochastic growth simulation. Dissections were conducted on 8 birds per strain semiweekly from 21 to 56 d of age to characterize allometric growth of pectoralis muscles, leg meat, abdominal fat pad, liver, gut, and heart. A novel nonlinear analysis of covariance was used to test the hypothesis that allometric growth patterns have changed as a result of commercial selection pressure. From 1957 to 2005, broiler growth increased by over 400%, with a concurrent 50% reduction in feed conversion ratio, corresponding to a compound annual rate of increase in 42 d live BW of 3.30%. Forty-two-day FCR decreased by 2.55% each year over the same 48-yr period. Pectoralis major growth potential increased, whereas abdominal fat decreased due to genetic selection pressure over the same time period. From 1957 to 2005, pectoralis minor yield at 42 d of age was 30% higher in males and 37% higher in females; pectoralis major yield increased by 79% in males and 85% in females. Over almost 50 yr of commercial quantitative genetic selection pressure, intended beneficial changes have been achieved. Unintended changes such as enhanced sexual dimorphism are likely inconsequential, though musculoskeletal, immune function, and parent stock management challenges may require additional attention in future selection programs.

Citations

• Carcass composition and yield of 1957 versus 2001 broilers when fed representative 1957 and 2001 broiler diets

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Discussions

• Selection for meat changed chicken a tiny bit over the years from doi.org/10.3382/ps.2... [bsky, 4 points, 0 comments]
• Bluesky and/or the Elsevier website really dropped the ball by not showing fig 1 as preview. Zuidhof et al. 2014 doi.org/10.3382/ps.2... creativecommons.org/licenses/by-... [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]
• Zuidhof et al. (2014) doi.org/10.3382/ps.2... [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]

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