Effect of exercise and guanidino acetic acid feeding on proteoglycans of chickens linked to Wooden Breast myopathy

Wooden breast myopathy poses a significant challenge in the poultry industry due to its adverse effects on meat quality and economic value. This condition is marked by an abnormal accumulation of proteoglycans, leading to muscle fibrosis. The study explores whether exercise and guanidino acetic acid supplementation can effectively reduce proteoglycan levels and improve muscle health in affected broilers and mitigate the severity of wooden breast myopathy. Ross 308 broilers were classified into four distinct treatment groups: exercise, guanidino acetic acid supplementation, combined, and control. The birds were terminated at different developmental stages for analysis. proteoglycans were extracted using a modified dimethylmethylene blue assay, and the results were statistically analyzed to determine the correlation between treatment effects and proteoglycan levels. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between the severity of wooden breast myopathy and total proteoglycans content (P < 0.001). Neither exercise nor guanidino acetic acid alone significantly affected proteoglycan levels in wooden breast. However, the combined treatment of exercise and guanidino acetic acid supplementation significantly reduced proteoglycan content in normal breast muscles (P<0.05), compared to exercise-only group. Additionally, age was a significant factor, with older chickens showing lower proteoglycan levels (P < 0.001, r = -0.883). These results suggested increased proteoglycan synthesis is a significant factor in wooden breast myopathy. The combined intervention of exercise and guanidino acetic acid supplementation have no significantly effect on proteoglycan level of wooden breast chickens. The age of the chickens significantly influences proteoglycan levels. Future research should explore different dosages and combinations of these interventions and employ more advanced techniques to better understand their efficacy in mitigating wooden breast myopathy. This study offered an insight for targeted interventions to improve poultry health and meat quality, addressing both economic and welfare concerns in the poultry industry.