EFFECT OF SELECTION FOR GROWTH AND FOR BREAST DEVELOPMENT ON KEEL DEFECTS IN BROILERS

Data from the third and fourth generations of a number of lines selected exclusively for growth, and of a number selected solely for breast angle, showed that selection for these traits had an effect on the incidence of crooked keels and breast blisters in 63-day-old broilers. The base population of these selected lines was a meat-control strain and a sample of this strain was reared with each hatch of the selected lines.Lines selected for growth had the highest incidence of both crooked keels and breast blisters. The lines selected for breast angle had a lower incidence of these defects than the controls, even though they did not differ from the controls in 63-day weight. It was concluded that there is a definite relationship between rate of growth, breast development and the incidence of keel defects. Market grading data on a sample of birds from these lines reflected these differences in keel defects. The market grades for conformation were lowest in the growth lines and highest in the breast lines.