Table 4.
Mean values and standard deviation of the myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), collagen and sarcomere length of breast meat from broilers affected by WBM.
| Variables | Normal (n = 20) | Moderate (n = 20) | Severe (n = 20) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFI | 80.45 ± 6.22 a | 92.99 ± 3.79 a | 64.51 ± 3.81 b | <0.0001 |
| Soluble collagen (%) | 0.13 ± 0.02 | 0.17 ± 0.02 | 0.18 ± 0.02 | 0.1490 |
| Insoluble collagen (%) | 0.16 ± 0.02 b | 0.26 ± 0.02 a | 0.30 ± 0.04 a | 0.0006 |
| Total collagen (%) | 0.29 ± 0.03 b | 0.43 ± 0.04 a | 0.48 ± 0.05 a | 0.0040 |
| Sarcomere (µm) | 1.50 ± 0.02 b | 1.49 ± 0.02 b | 1.66 ± 0.04 a | 0.0005 |
a,b Means followed by distinct letters in the lines differ from each other by the Tukey test (p < 0.05).