Table 1.

Body conformation measures recorded for male broilers at 4 phases during grow out.

Measure1	Definition
Body length	The dorsal length of the body (cm) from the back of the neck (at the junction of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae) to the tail (caudal tip of the pygostyle).
Pelvic width	The dorsal width of the pelvis (cm) measured at the top of both thighs where the femur attaches to the ischium.
Shank length	The caudal length of the shank (cm) measured from the base of the right hock (intertarsal) joint to the base of the fourth toe.
Shank width	The caudal leg width (cm) measured at the base of the right hock (intertarsal) joint.
Keel length	The length of the keel bone (cm) from anterior edge to posterior edge.
Breast width	The width of the breast (cm) from the right wing joint (where the humerus attaches to the scapula) across the breast to the left wing joint.
Breast depth	The depth of the breast (cm) measured from the anterior edge of the keel bone to the back of the neck (at the junction of the cervical and thoracic vertebrate) anterior to the wing joint.

¹Adapted from Chambers and Fortin, 1984.