Assessment of the body development kinetic of broiler breeders by non-invasive imaging tools

ABSTRACT In order to determine the body composition of parental broilers during growth from hatching to adulthood (32 wk of age), we evaluated the kinetics of fattening, growth rate, reproduction parameters, and body composition of the animals by using non-invasive tools such as medical imaging (ultrasound and CT scan) and blood sample analysis. The use of CT scanner allowed us to monitor the development of the body composition (fatness, bone, muscle, ovary, and testis growth) of these same animals. These analyses were accompanied by biochemical blood analyses such as steroids, metabolites, and some adipokines concentration. Difference in the body composition between males and females appeared at 16 wk of age. From 20 wk of age, shortly before the onset of lay, the females had 1.6-fold more adipose tissues than males (P