Factors Affecting the Incidence and Severity of a Breast Blister Condition in Broilers ,

BREAST blisters have been observed on poultry for a number of years, but during the last two or three years, there has been an apparent increase in the incidence of this condition in broilers. The Federal Poultry Inspectors in the Northwest Arkansas broiler area have observed incidences higher than 70 percent in certain flocks which were dressed in the processing plants where they were employed. In these cases, a portion of the breast was removed, thus reducing not only the weight but the market grade of the bird, with an appreciable reduction in price per pound of the marketable product. Smith (1956) studied the effect of several different types of litter on incidence of breast blisters. Among the materials studied were wood shavings, sawdust, whole corn cobs, and corn cobs which were ground to particles less than three inches in diameter. He found that birds which were maintained on the …