16.07.2025

Avian Pathol . 2025 Jul 14:1-57.

Broiler poultry production has undergone substantial advancements designed to enhance growth rates and breast muscle yield in response to rising global consumer demand. However, these genetic and management improvements have been accompanied by the emergence of various breast muscle myopathies, most notably white striping (WS), woody breast (WB), and spaghetti meat (SM). These conditions negatively impact meat quality, texture, appearance, and processing performance, thereby causing economic losses and reducing consumer acceptance.
A comprehensive review published in Avian Pathology provides an updated overview of the current knowledge concerning breast muscle myopathies in broiler chickens, with particular emphasis on WS, WB, and SM. The review begins with representative images depicting the phenotypic characteristics and classification criteria of affected muscles, illustrating the range of lesion severity. It further analyzes data from multiple studies to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of these conditions, highlighting correlations with factors such as genetic strain, live weight, sex, and husbandry practices.
The article explores potential molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these myopathies, including hypoxia-induced cellular stress responses, oxidative damage, and metabolic dysregulation within muscle tissue. Both genetic susceptibility and environmental influences are suggested to interact synergistically in the onset of these conditions.
Overall, the review emphasizes the complex, multifactorial nature of broiler breast muscle myopathies and advocates for comprehensive strategies—encompassing genetic selection, optimized management practices, and targeted nutritional interventions—to mitigate their occurrence and improve meat quality in modern poultry production systems.