Vascular fragility, carcass lesions and downgrades

The genetic growth potential of modern broilers, ?combined with high quality feed with readily available nutrients and sugars results in fast growth. However, the vascular integrity of the birds is at stake. Blood vessel fragility increases the risk of carcass lesions and subsequent downgrades in the abattoir. Managers of poultry processing plants all around the world are increasingly worried about the incidence of carcass lesions in broilers. “Up to 20% of the birds are affected by bruises, m