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- Myopathy of the pectoralis minor muscles is a side effect of the use of genetics with an exceptionally high production potential
- As a result of rapid growth, there is a decrease in blood supply and muscle necrosis.
- The risk of disease occurrence can be reduced by eliminating stress factors.
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The common name of the disease – green muscle disease – graphically shows the changes occurring in the muscle structure of animals. They concern the pectoralis minor muscle. In the course of the disease, its color initially changes to intense red, and later to gray-green. The structure of the muscle itself also changes – it becomes hard and fibrous. The disease mainly affects chickens and turkeys for slaughter.
The Meaning of Green Muscle Disease
Importantly, the changes occurring in the DPM results do not pose a threat to the lives of animals, but they are disadvantageous from the point of view of human economy. They significantly worsen the quality of the most valuable cut, which are breast muscles. Such muscles are often not sold, and coming across such meat raises considerable concern in consumers. Not so long ago, we were dealing with a media storm suggesting that meat from animals affected by DPM is even dangerous to human health, which is naturally misleading consumers. Nevertheless, the presence of meat from animals suffering from the disease certainly does not affect the positive image of the sector.
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The mechanism of the disease is relatively well understood. The disorder results from one cause – too rapid growth of intensively bred animals. In the case of using high-production genetics and intensive feeding, a situation occurs in which muscles – figuratively speaking – do not fit in the body. Their growth is limited by other tissues (other muscles, bones). In this situation, pressure occurs, which leads to a decrease in blood supply, and in extreme cases to necrosis of muscle fibers.
How to prevent green muscle disease
Considering the primary cause of the disorders, the remedy for their occurrence would seem to be to move away from highly productive genetics in favor of breeding lines that grow more harmoniously. This is sometimes the case – meat from slower-growing chickens is becoming increasingly popular. As consumers, however, we often look for meat that is as cheap as possible, and this cannot be produced using slower-growing genetics. Therefore, we will be doomed to fast-growing lines for a long time.
However, it is possible to limit the frequency of DPM to some extent. Muscle changes are facilitated by intensive wing flapping, which is the effect of various stress factors, such as noise, improper behavior of staff, or limited access to feed. Therefore, in order to avoid DPM, it is worth taking care of the animal's well-being first and foremost.
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