Application of Ultrasonic Nondestructive Testing for Breeding of Meat Pigeons

Comments 1: The Type of the Paper is unnecessary, leaving only Article

Response 1: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have removed “Type of the Paper” and adjusted the formatting accordingly. The revised content is displayed in line 1.

Comments 2: I consider it more appropriate and precise: The first application of the technology of ultrasonic non-destructive testing of pectoral musculature yield in the breeding of pigeons intended for meat production. Moreover, if the authors make such a strong statement, it does not seem consistent with the statement in lines 198-201: "Zhang et al. was the first to use UNDT to measure the BMT of meat pigeons 198 in China and created a univariate linear model of weight, BMT, BD and BMW of meat 199 pigeons with a correlation coefficient between the BMT and BMW of meat pigeons of 0.658 [6], which was lower than in the present study due to the small sample number". So, I think you should drop one statement or rephrase and "mitigate" the statement in the "Featured Application".

Response 2: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. We have revised the description of “Featured Application” to: "The first application of ultrasonic non-destructive testing technology for measuring pectoral musculature yield in breeding pigeons intended for meat production." This ensures consistency with the referenced content.

Comments 3: In the entire text of the work, separate the last word in the sentence from the square bracket with a space.

Response 3: Thank you for pointing this out. We have reviewed the entire manuscript and corrected all instances to ensure there is a space before every reference number.

Comments 4: Where there are two or more numbers in square brackets, there should be no space after the comma.

Response 4: Thank you for pointing this out. We have corrected all unnecessary spaces following commas between numbers in the manuscript.

Comments 5: Check the meaning of this sentence.

Response 5: Thank you for pointing this out. After careful review, we found the statement unclear. We have revised it to: "Moreover, high-quality birds selected after slaughter can no longer be used for breeding." （in line 44-45）

Comments 6: Maybe it's happier to say instead of "diagnosis" that it's about "measurement of certain parameters"

Response 6: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this suggestion and have replaced “diagnosis” with “measurement” throughout the manuscript for a more accurate description.

Comments 7: It seems that the font is not uniform, ie. if not Palatino Linotype. Also, at the end of the sentence is not a period but a percentage symbol (I assume).

Response 7: We have standardized the font throughout the manuscript to Palatino Linotype.

Comments 8: I assume that article The is redundant and should be deleted.

Response 8: Thank you for pointing this out. After careful review, The phrase “The In total” is incorrect. This phrase has been corrected to: "The total 206 pigeons…"（in line 75）

Comments 9: Considering that it is not usual and not desirable, it is recommended to insert a certain part of the text before Figure 1, so that the Figure is not immediately below the title of subchapter 2.2

Response 9: Thank you for pointing this out. We have added text immediately following the subsection heading to improve the formatting. (Section 2.2)

Comments 10: BMTA but not in BMT at point B.

Response 10: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. We have revised this statement to: "There were significant differences at point A in BMT." (in line 109)

Comments 11: Also, the results showed that the method was not affected by pigeons sex. (in line 188)

Response 11: Thank you for pointing this out. This has been revised as suggested. This phrase has been revised to: " Also, the results showed that the method was not affected by pigeons sex." （in line 188-189）

Comments 12: "Content" is not an optimal solution, because it is about muscle mass; if it is more precise Breast Muscle Weight (BMW), change it in the text. I think it would be better even if it says: "BM and meat yield"

Response 12: Thank you for pointing this out. Based on the advice of other review experts, we have removed this sentence to reduce excessive duplication of results.

Comments 13: I consider the following reformulation of the sentence more comprehensive and precise: UNDT has the advantages of being non-invasive, real-time, and operationally simple, which makes it very applicable in examining fattening results or, in our research, determining the yield of the most valuable musculature in commercial breeding".

Response 13: Thank you for pointing this out. This has been revised as suggested. This phrase has been revised to: " UNDT has the advantages of being non-invasive…” (in line 197-199)

Comments 14: This sentence is almost identical to the one in lines 187-188, so it is advisable to change or discard one of them.

Response 14: Thank you for pointing this out. This sentence has been removed to avoid redundancy.

Comments 15: maybe: "meat pigeon industry and market."

Response 15: Thank you for pointing this out. We have revised the statement to:"…and to further develop the meat pigeon industry and market."

Comments 16: All references must conform to the Instructions for Authors. All authors are required, not just the first (with et al.). The name of the Journal must be written as an abbreviation and in italics. Volume must be in italics. It is preferable to have a DOI number at the end of the reference (for papers from Journals that have a DOI). Separate with a space between the period and the name of the Journal, and so in all references.

Response 16: Thank you for pointing this out. We have revised the references to fully comply with the submission guidelines, including completing missing author names, abbreviating journal names in italics, and adding DOI numbers where applicable.

Comments 1: In the reviewed manuscript, the researchers evaluated the intravital ultrasound assessment of the pectoral muscles in meat pigeons. They were the first in history to demonstrate the usefulness of this method in an excellent and non-invasive assessment of the basic properties of not only the muscles, but also the entire body of the pigeons. The advantage of the study is the large amount of research material and comprehensive statistical calculations that confirm and authenticate the obtained results. The method of presenting the results in the form of 4 tables and 8 figures significantly helps to understand and appreciate the work of Ruiyuan et al. Another advantage of the work is the usefulness of the obtained results in the practical conditions of breeding meat pigeons.

In the description of the tables, I sometimes missed a more precise designation of some of the studied features, e.g. BD?

Response 1: Thank you for your positive evaluation of our work and for highlighting its originality and practical implications. Regarding the clarification of features, we have added detailed explanations of abbreviations, including body weight (BW) and breast depth (BD), to ensure clarity and ease of understanding for the readers. These updates have been implemented in the line 13 descriptions in the manuscript.

Comments 1: The abstract provides a broad overview but lacks detail on specific methods and outcomes. Including more highlights (e.g., correlation coefficients) to strengthen its impact.

Response 1: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. Therefore, we have revised the abstract to include more specific details. The original sentence: "The results showed that the correlation coefficients between the BMT at point A and the corresponding BM was highest in 28-day-old Carneau and Silver King pigeons, respectively" has been updated to: "The results demonstrated that the correlation coefficients between BMT at point A and BMW were 0.907 and 0.897 in Carneau and Silver King pigeons, respectively, with significant regression relationships (p < 0.01)."(in line19-21)

Comments 2: The claim of "first application" requires contextualization against prior work cited in the discussion (e.g., studies on other poultry species).

Response 2: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. We have expanded the description of the abstract to include comparisons with prior research: " It has been proved using ultrasonic nondestructive testing specifically for evaluating pectoral musculature yield in other poultry species such as Peking ducks and Yangzhou geese is feasible. "(in line 15-17). Moreover, we added that the meaningof this article “This represents the first application of ultrasonic nondestructive testing specifically for evaluating pectoral musculature yield in pigeons intended for meat production.” (in line 24-26)

Comments 3: The introduction effectively outlines the importance of the meat pigeon industry and the limitations of traditional methods. However, the rationale for selecting UNDT over other potential technologies is not adequately justified.

Response 3: Thank you for pointing this out. We have added details about the limitations of traditional techniques to further emphasize the advantages of UNDT: "which are particularly advantageous for preserving breeding stock. By contrast, traditional methods, such as manual palpation or destructive sampling, are limited by precision, cost, and the inability to retain high-value breeding stock."(in line 49-51)

Comments 4:  While prior applications of UNDT in poultry are mentioned, a more detailed critical review of limitations in existing methods would provide stronger justification for this study.

Response 4: Thank you for pointing this out. We have added a discussion of the limitations of using UNDT: "Additionally, a comprehensive review of the limitations of these applications and the rationale for extending UNDT to meat pigeons has yet to be detailed."(in line 62-64)

Comments 5: The description of the study population (103 Carneau and Silver King pigeons) lacks detail on selection criteria and potential biases.

Response 5: Thank you for pointing this out. After careful review, this section has been updated as follows: " The total 206 pigeons were selected randomly, including 103 Carneau pigeons and 103 Silver King pigeons, aged 28 days. All samples were reared under identical envi-ronmental and dietary conditions in facilities operated by Shanghai Jinhuang Industry Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China)." (in line 75-78）

Comments 6: While measurement protocols for BMT are described, details on replicates, operator variability, and calibration of equipment are missing.

Response 6: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this suggestion and have supplemented this section with additional details: "Each measurement was conducted in triplicate to ensure repeatability. The ultrasound equipment was calibrated before each session using manufacturer-recommended standards, and operator variability was minimized through standardized training."(in line 91-94)

Comments 7: While Pearson correlation coefficients are used, additional statistical tests (e.g., regression diagnostics, residual analysis) to validate linear regression models should be reported. The claim that UNDT results are unaffected by sex or breed should be supported by interaction effects or comparative statistical tests.

Response 7: Thank you for pointing this out. We have added a description of additional statistical tests: "In addition, residual analysis and regression diagnostics were performed to assess the adequacy and reliability of the linear regression models."(in line 104-106)

Comments 8: While the discussion links findings to broader implications for the meat pigeon industry, it tends to reiterate results rather than critically analyzing them. Key limitations, such as operator dependency, environmental effects, or sample representativeness, are not sufficiently addressed.

Response 8: Thank you for pointing this out. We removed” UNDT is a non-invasive method for measuring body surface traits, such as BMT and fat content. Correlation analysis of BM content and meat yield can indirectly estimate the breast and total meat yields of meat pigeons.” for context to reduce content duplication. At the same time, we have enhanced the discussion section with critical analysis: "However, while the study confirms the reliability and efficiency of UNDT, a critical analysis of its limitations is essential. For instance, operator dependency can significantly influence the consistency of measurements, emphasizing the need for rigorous training protocols. Additionally, environmental factors such as lighting and temperature may impact imaging quality, highlighting the importance of standardized measurement conditions."(in line 199-204)

Comments 9: The discussion mentions other studies, but deeper comparative insights into why this study achieved higher correlation coefficients would add value.

Response 9: Thank you for pointing this out. We have added comparative analysis to the discussion: "These higher correlation coefficients compared to earlier studies may be attributed to the larger sample size, refined measurement protocols, and precise selection of anatomical sites, such as point A. Further comparative studies with other poultry species and equipment types would provide deeper insights into these findings." (in line 209-213)

Comments 10: The conclusions restate findings rather than providing actionable recommendations or future directions. Practical recommendations for integrating UNDT into breeding programs are missing.

Response 10: Thank you for pointing this out. We agree with this comment. We have expanded the conclusion to include practical recommendations and future directions: "To enhance the application of UNDT in breeding programs, it is recommended to develop portable and cost-effective ultrasound devices, suitable for use on small-scale farms. Operator training programs should be standardized to reduce variability in measurements. Additionally, combining UNDT data with genetic selection methods could accelerate breeding efficiency by identifying superior breeding stock with greater precision. Further research should explore the integration of artificial intelligence for automated image analysis to enhance accuracy and consistency in measurement processes." (in line 271-278)

Comments 11: Please correct the error in line 66 “The In total,”

Response 11: Thank you for pointing this out. The grammatical error has been corrected.