Livestock Research
Livestock Research | Online ISSN 3068-4625
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Volume 3 Number 1 2026
REVIEWS (Open Access)
Comparative Growth Dynamics, Carcass Yield, and Meat Quality in Fast- and Slow-Growing Broiler Strains: A Review
Nazmul Huda 1, Nazmus Sakib 1, Md. Shamim Uddin 2, Md Laden Rahman 1, Md Omor Farqe 1, Md Sabbir Hossen 3, Md Tahsin Al Foysal 3, Md Akteruzzaman 4, Syed Sarwar Jahan 1, and Md Shariful Islam 1*
Livestock Research 3 (1) 1-15 https://doi.org/10.25163/livestock.3110679
Submitted: 04 February 2026 Revised: 08 April 2026 Accepted: 12 April 2026 Published: 14 April 2026
Abstract
The modern poultry industry has achieved remarkable gains in productivity through intensive genetic selection, leading to the widespread adoption of fast-growing (FG) broiler strains. However, growing concerns related to animal welfare, meat quality, and sustainability have renewed interest in slow-growing (SG) broiler genotypes. This review provides a comprehensive comparative assessment of growth dynamics, carcass yield, and meat quality attributes between fast- and slow-growing broiler strains, synthesizing evidence from peer-reviewed studies published in recent decades. Fast-growing broilers are characterized by exceptionally high average daily gain and superior feed efficiency, allowing them to reach market weight within a short production cycle. These advantages are primarily driven by intensive selection for breast muscle accretion. In contrast, slow-growing strains exhibit lower growth rates and poorer feed conversion ratios due to extended rearing periods and higher maintenance energy requirements. Nevertheless, SG broilers demonstrate greater physiological robustness, improved skeletal development, and higher resilience to environmental stressors such as heat stress. Marked differences are also evident in carcass composition. FG strains consistently produce higher dressing percentages and breast meat yields, whereas SG genotypes yield proportionally more leg and wing meat, reflecting their distinct body conformation and higher activity levels. From a meat quality perspective, FG broilers are more susceptible to muscle myopathies, including white striping and woody breast, which negatively affect texture, water-holding capacity, and processing performance. Conversely, meat from SG broilers is often associated with firmer texture, higher protein content, lower intramuscular fat and cholesterol levels, and more desirable sensory attributes, including enhanced flavor and color. Despite their welfare and quality advantages, SG broilers impose greater environmental and economic costs due to longer production cycles and increased resource use. Overall, this review highlights the inherent trade-offs between production efficiency, meat quality, animal welfare, and sustainability, providing a conceptual framework to support informed decision-making in selecting broiler genotypes for future poultry production systems in developing countries.
Keywords: Fast-growing broiler; Slow-growing broiler; Growth dynamics; Carcass yield; Meat quality; Animal welfare; Sustainability
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