Estimation of breast meat yield in living broilers using B-scan sonography - Second report: Accuracy of the method

Ultrasound B-scan was used to determine the breast meat yield of broilers in vivo using the method described by KONIG (1997). The measurement parallel to the sternum and above the os coracoideum proved to be the most valuable measurements. Based on these two sites models for the prediction of the traits of breast meat yield were set up. The percentage of breast meat based on life weight was predicted with a correlation of 0.73 (cocks) and 0.71 (hens). For the prediction of the percentage of breast meat based on carcass weight the correlations were 0.69 for the males and 0.68 for the females, respectively. Repeated measurements were done to determine the repeatability. Depending on the site of measurement the repeatability for a single measurement ranged from 96.2% to 98.8%. Only one person was needed to perform the measurements with an average speed of 76 birds per hour. No additional equipment such as contact cushions or special restraining equipment was needed.