Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fayetteville, Arkansas » Poultry Production and Product Safety Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #285669
Title: Comparison of hematologic and serologic profiles of broiler birds with normal (NORM) and severe (SEV) degrees of white striping in breast fillets

Author
item KUTTAPPAN, VITEK - University Of Arkansas
item Huff, Geraldine
item Huff, William
item HARGIS, BILLY - University Of Arkansas
item APPLE, JASON - University Of Arkansas
item COON, CRAIG - University Of Arkansas
item OWENS, CASEY - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2012
Publication Date: 2/1/2013
Citation: Kuttappan, V.A., Huff, G.R., Huff, W.E., Hargis, B.M., Apple, J.K., Coon, C.N., Owens, C.M. 2013. Comparison of hematologic and serologic profiles of broiler birds with normal (NORM) and severe (SEV) degrees of white striping in breast fillets. Poultry Science. 92(2):339-345.

Interpretive Summary: White striping is a term used to describe the white stripes seen in broiler breast fillets and thighs. Broiler breast fillets can be categorized as normal (NORM), moderate (MOD) or severe (SEV) based on the degree of white striping. The present study was undertaken to compare the blood profiles of broilers with NORM and SEV degrees of white striping in order to get more information on the systemic changes associated with the condition. In this study, day-old male broiler chicks of a commercial strain were grown on the same diet in six replicate pens (n=32 birds/pen). Blood samples (5ml) were collected from the wing vein of each bird on the day before processing for analyzing blood profiles. At 63 days, the birds were weighed and processed in a commercial inline processing system. Weight of the butterfly fillets, liver and abdominal fat pad were recorded. Left-side fillets were scored to obtain the degree of white striping for each bird. Most representative samples for NORM (n=24) and SEV (n=17) categories were selected to compare the blood profiles. The SEV birds had higher (P<0.05) live, fillet and liver weights as well as fillet yield when compared to the NORM birds, but the abdominal fat yield was lower (P<0.05) in SEV birds. The NORM and SEV birds did not show any difference in various blood parameters, mainly the differential leucocyte count. Furthermore, the SEV birds had elevated (P<0.05) levels of the enzymes creatine kinase, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. These results suggest that there is no systemic infectious or inflammatory condition associated to SEV degree of white striping. The elevated serum enzyme levels confirm the muscle damage in SEV birds and could be used as markers for the occurrence of the condition in live birds.

Technical Abstract: White striping is the white striation seen parallel to the direction of muscle fibers in broiler breast fillets and thighs. Broiler breast fillets can be categorized as normal (NORM), moderate (MOD) and severe (SEV) based on the degree of white striping. Histologically, the SEV fillets are characterized by the highest degree of degeneration of muscle fibers along with fibrosis and lipidosis when compared of NORM. The present study was undertaken to compare the hematologic and serologic profiles of broilers with NORM and SEV degrees of white striping in order to get more information on the systemic changes associated with the condition. In this study, day-old male broiler chicks of a commercial strain were grown on the same diet in six replicate pens (n=32 birds/pen). Blood samples (5ml) were collected from the wing vein of each bird on the day before processing for analyzing hematologic and serologic profiles. At 63d, the birds were weighed and processed in a commercial inline processing system. Weight of the butterfly fillets, liver and abdominal fat pad were recorded. Left-side fillets were scored to obtain the degree of white striping for each bird. Most representative samples for NORM (n=24) and SEV (n=17) categories were selected to compare the hematologic and serologic profiles. The SEV birds had a higher (P<0.05) live, fillet and liver weights as well as fillet yield when compared to the NORM birds, but the abdominal fat yield was lower (P<0.05) in SEV birds. The NORM and SEV birds did not show any difference in various hematological parameters, mainly the differential leucocyte count. Furthermore, the SEV birds had elevated (P<0.05) levels of creatine kinase, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase. These results suggest that there is no systemic infectious or inflammatory condition associated to SEV degree of white striping. The elevated serum enzyme levels confirm the muscle damage in SEV birds and could be used as markers for the occurrence of the condition in live birds.