Comparison of weights for left and right breast muscle of broilers.
Two studies were conducted to investigate the differences in the yield of broiler breast meat (pectoralis muscles) between the left and right sides of the bird. In the first study, 42-day-old male broilers had 3.3% more meat on the left side of the breast than on the right side. This difference was observed for both the Pectoralis superficialis and Pectoralis profundis muscles. In the second study, male broilers were sampled at 50, 57, and 64 days of age. There was 2.7% more meat on the left side of the breast than on the right side, and the percentage difference was not affected by age. The results indicated that both sides of the breast should be sampled in studies concerning the yield of breast meat.