Selection with restriction in a poultry breeding scheme with different selection procedures in both sexes: Correlated responses

1. Mass selection in two replicate lines of Leghorn chickens was practiced for low 20‐week body weight in males and by an index designed to reduce age at first egg, body weight at 20 weeks and maintain a constant early egg size in females.

2. Selection responses in body weights of hens at 40 and 60 weeks of age, as well as in average egg weight of all eggs, egg number, egg mass and feed conversion at the above ages are given for 5 generations of selection.

3. Estimation of genetic responses were made separately for selection on males (M _i ) and females (F _i ) using control groups of hens from matings between females with an index near the population average and either males with body weight near the population average (Cl) or the selected males within lines (C2).

4. Total genetic response to selection of both parents (CR _i ) showed an expected decline in body weights of hens, small changes in egg weights and egg numbers, and an improved feed efficiency.     

Genetic heterogeneity of variance in production traits of laying hens

Genetic parameters for mean and for environmental variation in egg weight, body weight, age at first egg, and egg production were estimated in eight layer lines. The data were recorded from years 1999-2007, with on average of 6500 birds per line. An iterative mean-variance REML method was applied with a sire-plus-dam model for mean, a sire model for variance, and a fixed effect of hatch within generation for both mean and variance. The estimated heritability of environmental variation averaged about 5% for body weight, 3% for egg weight, and 11% for age at first egg, but was inconsistent among the lines for egg production (0-15%). Correlations between means and variances were slightly positive for body weight, egg weight, and age at first egg; and strongly negative for egg production. Age at first egg had the highest heritability of environmental variation; and favourable correlations with egg production and with variation in other production traits indicate that reducing variation in this trait may have potential benefits for the breeding industry.     

Genetic correlations of abdominal fat with production traits of leghorn hens based on inbred line averages

1. Data from 16 inbred lines derived by three generations of full sib mating from a common outbred base population were used to estimate genetic correlations between body weight, abdominal fat content, follicle number, liver weight, egg weight and egg number using between‐line variances and covariances.

2. High genetic correlations were found between body weight, fat content and egg weight. Low genetic correlations were found between follicle number and all traits other than egg weights.

3. Theoretical expectations and low correlations within lines led to the conclusion that environmental correlations among the traits considered were very low.

     

Multivariate analysis of mixed inheritance model of performance traits in layers using Gibbs sampling

The Gibbs sampling under a multitrait animal model was applied to detect the single gene affecting chicken performance traits and their pleiotropic actions as well as to estimate the heritability and correlations for these traits. A total of 14 823 individuals of a Rhode Island Red line (RIR) and 18 653 individuals of a Rhode Island White line (RIW) from six generations under long-term selection were recorded. Five performance traits were studied: initial egg production (IEP; until 38th week), egg production (until 54th week), egg weight at 33rd week (EW), age at first egg (AFE), and body weight at 20th week (BW). An analysis was based on the estimated marginal densities of the following parameters: frequencies, additive and dominance effects and variances and covariances (for single gene) as well as additive genetic and residual variances and respective covariances (for polygenes). An inference concerning the mixed inheritance model is performed by visualising the marginal posterior densities of major gene variance separately for all traits. The pleiotropic effect of single locus is expressed as the single gene correlation coefficient. It shows contributions of single genes to BW (10 and 15% of total variance for A22 and K44, respectively) and EW of K44 (9% of total variance). Moreover, a small positive pleiotropic single locus effect in line K44 was also registered. The polygenic heritability estimates obtained were low, except for EW and BW of both lines. Generally, the correlation estimates were in agreement with results reported in literature.     

Factors affecting direct and correlated responses in a White Leghorn population under long term selection for egg number

1. Data on 13,773 pullets, the progeny of 30 to 50 sires and about 135 to 220 dams per generation of a strain of White Leghorn under long term selection for part period egg production over 16 generations, were examined. 2. Realised genetic gain per generation was highly significant for egg production (2.55 eggs), egg weight (- 0.51 g), age at sexual maturity (- 2.30 d) and 40 week body weight (- 11.73 g). 3. The significant genetic response of 4.46 to 4.72 eggs per generation was realised in the first 8 generations only, which was accompanied by a marked decline in egg weight (- 1.67 and- 0.79 g per generation) and in age at sexual maturity (- 4.63 and- 6.39 d per generation). The 20 and 40 week body weights showed significant improvement in the last 4 generations. 4. Realised heritabilities were much lower in the last 8 than in the first 8 generation. 5. The additive genetic variance for most traits, except 20 week body weight and genetic covariances of egg production with egg weight and age at sexual maturity, declined significantly. 6. Natural selection did not seem to play any major role. No appreciable change in fitness traits was observed in the selected line. 7. The time trends were non-significant for all the traits in the control line, indicating its stability over generations.     

Two generations of selection on restricted best linear unbiased prediction breeding values for income minus feed cost in laying hens.

Two generations of selection on restricted BLUP breeding values were applied in an experiment with laying hens. Selection had been on phenotype of income minus feed cost (IFC) between 21 and 40 wk of age in the previous five generations. The restriction of no genetic change in egg weight was included in the EBV for power-transformed IFC (i.e., IFCt, with t-values of 3.7 and 3.6 in the two generations, respectively). The experiment consisted of two selection lines plus a randomly bred control of 20 male and 80 female breeders each. Observations on 8,844 survivors to 40 wk were available. Relative to the base population average, the restriction reduced genetic gain in IFC from 4.1 and 3.9% to 2.0 and 2.2% per generation in the two selection lines, respectively. Average EBV for egg weight remained nearly constant after a strong increase in the previous five generations. Rates of genetic gain for egg number, body weight, and feed conversion (feed/egg mass) were not affected significantly. In the seventh generation, a genetic gain in feed conversion of 10.3% relative to the phenotypic mean of the base population was obtained.     

Effect of hens fed dietary flaxseed with and without a fatty liver supplement on hepatic,plasma and production characteristics relevant to fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome in laying hens

1. Two long-term experiments were conducted with Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) hens (line UCD-003) predisposed to fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS). The first investigated the effect of adding a fatty liver supplement to the diet of laying hens prior to the onset of lay, and continuing either until peak production or throughout 39 weeks into lay. The second experiment, lasting 9 months into lay, investigated the effect of adding a fatty liver supplement, with or without 100 g/kg dietary ground flaxseed, to the diet. Body weight, feed intake, plasma triglycerides (in experiment 2) and egg production were measured throughout the experiment. Liver weight, liver fat content, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content and liver haemorrhage score and fatty acid content of liver fat (in experiment 2) were measured at the end of each experiment. 2. In experiment 1, hens given diets containing the fatty liver supplement had higher egg production and eggshell strength, but there was no difference in liver parameters including MDA content or haemorrhage score compared with controls. 3. At the end of experiment 2, hens on 100 g/kg flaxseed diets had lower body weight, liver weight, liver dry matter and fat content, and plasma triglyceride concentrations than hens given the control diets. 4. Liver haemorrhage score was positively correlated with liver weight, but not with liver fat content, plasma triglyceride concentration or liver MDA content. This suggests that reducing the liver lipid content or feeding fatty liver supplements may not be as effective in controlling FLHS as controlling the size of the liver.     

Social dominance difference,given limited access to common food,between hens selected and unselected for increased egg production

White Leghorn hens, belonging to a population (P) selected on an index for high egg number combined with slightly increased egg size, were compared for social dominance with a control line (R) derived from P in 1958 and reproduced independently over ten generations of random selection. The P line matured 12 d earlier, laid 18 more eggs in the part year to 1st January, had an increased egg production from 1st January to 1st October in the second year, laid heavier (2 g) eggs and had slightly longer shanks than the R line. Body size of the two lines, however, was similar.

Observations on the social dominance of hens were made in pens containing four hungry P‐ and four hungry R‐hens when they were 70 or more weeks of age. Observations focused on the hens’ ability to take and maintain a place at a food trough allowing only limited access. Larger scores, corresponding to high ranks, were given to the hens which were able to spend the most time eating.

Clear‐cut differences of social rank in favour of the selected production line were found in all 20 pens. Phenotypic correlations between production characteristics of individual R‐hens and their social rank scores were in agreement with other studies, showing that within genetic lines hens of high social status matured earlier and had larger body size than the more timid individuals.     

Effect of daily feed intake in laying period on laying performance, egg quality and egg composition of genetically fat and lean lines of chickens

1. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feed intake on laying performance, egg quality and egg composition in a Fat line and a Lean line during the laying period (34 to 54 weeks of age). 2. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial design with two dietary intake levels (nutrition recommendation and 75% of recommendation) and two broiler genotypes (Fat line and Lean line). Hens (384 of each line) were randomly divided at 23 weeks of age into 4 treatments, with each treatment represented by 12 replicates of 16 birds each. The experiment started when the rate of lay reached 5% and continued until 54 weeks of age. 3. The results indicated that there was a significant interaction between daily feed intake and genotype on egg production, egg weight, percentage yolk, yolk/albumen ratio and yolk cholesterol content. Fat line hens produced significantly more eggs and had a lower incidence of cracked eggs than the Lean line hens. The reduction in feed intake decreased egg weight and increased egg production, egg-shape index and cholesterol content of yolk significantly.     

Genetic study of embryonic mortality in White Leghorn lines selected for egg production traits

The present study compares embryonic mortality between lines selected for different production traits, assesses the effects of inbreeding of the hen and embryo on embryonic mortality, and estimates genetic parameters of embryonic mortality. The experiment covered 10 generations of selection for increased egg number (EN), egg weight (EW), egg mass (EM) and a control line (C). The data included age at 1st egg, egg number and egg weight. Percent fertile eggs (PF), percent hatched of fertile eggs (PHF) and percent dead chick at hatch (PDH) were also recorded for the selected parents. PDH was higher in the selected lines than in the control line. Among the selected lines, the EW line had the highest embryonic mortality. Inbreeding of the hen and embryo had no significant effect on PDH in any of the lines. Estimates of heritability for PDH were 0.10+/-0.05, 0.02+/-0.02, 0.03+/-0.02 and 0.02+/-0.02 for lines EN, EW, EM and C, respectively. There was a positive genetic correlation between egg weight and PDH in line EW indicating that selection for increased egg weight was associated with high embryonic mortality. A negative genetic correlation between PDH and reproductive traits in line EN was observed, which is favourable.     

肉种鸡血浆极低密度脂蛋白质量浓度双向选择的效应

以父母代肉种鸡为材料，以血浆极低密度脂蛋白（very low density lipoprotein，VLDL）质量浓度为选择指标建立肉鸡高脂系和低脂系，个体测定一世代高、低脂系母鸡产蛋性能、种蛋受精率、孵化率、二世代6周龄体质量，观察血浆VLDL质量浓度选择效应。结果显示，一世代低脂系比高脂系早开产6．7d，低脂系40周龄和54周龄产蛋量显著高于高脂系零世代，一世代低脂系种蛋受精率、受精蛋孵化率、入孵蛋孵化率均优于高脂系；二世代高、低脂系6周龄体质量差异不显著。结果表明，对血浆VLDL质量浓度的低向选择使种鸡产蛋性能、种蛋受精率、孵化率产生了有益的间接反应，但对早期体质量没有影响。     

碱性磷酸酶同工酶与产蛋性能的关系

本文利用聚丙烯酰胺垂直板高压电泳分离了18周龄115只岩谷蛋鸡的血清碱性磷酸酶同工酶,其中快型35只,慢型80只,并就快慢两型的体重、血液中某些生化指标和产蛋性能进行比较。结果表明:快型同工酶的鸡,8周龄体重、血清碱性磷酸酶活力、开产蛋重、开产日龄、300日龄体重、300日龄蛋重,极显著的大于慢型鸡;而300日龄产蛋数极显著的低于慢型鸡。     

Changes in body and organ weights of Japanese quail selected for 6‐week body weight 1

Three populations of Japanese quail, selected over 13 generations for increased body weight, a randomly selected base population and reciprocal backcrosses of selected lines to the control were studied. Live body weight and weights of liver, testes, oviducts and carcasses were obtained to assess the effects of selection.

At 6 weeks of age a 20 g. difference in live body weight existed between selected line and base population. Sexual dimorphism in live body weight in favour of females appeared at 3 weeks of age and increased with age. A 5 g. difference in 6‐week body weight between female backcross progeny from sires from selected lines and those sired by males from the base population suggested an influence of sex‐linked genes. At 8 weeks of age the weight of females of both reciprocal back‐cross types significantly exceeded the average of females from the selected lines suggesting that female reproductive organ weight had increased under selection as well as heterosis. Carcass weight of selected females was lower than for corresponding males, a reversal of the sexual dimorphism displayed by the controls.

Reciprocal differences in liver weight between backcross females, but not males, suggested an effect of sex‐linked genes.

Testis as well as oviduct weights of quail from selected lines were substantially greater than from controls.     

维生素E对免疫抑制产蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的调控效应

试验探讨维生素E对免疫抑制蛋鸡生产性能和蛋品质的调控效应,选取健康的尼克褐产蛋鸡270只,随机等分为5组,每组3个重复,每重复18只。第Ⅰ组为对照组,第Ⅱ~Ⅴ组为免疫抑制组,对第Ⅱ~Ⅴ组鸡在试验第5、6、7 d进行腿部肌肉注射80 mg/kgBW环磷酰胺(CTX),第Ⅰ组注射等量生理盐水。Ⅰ、Ⅱ组饲喂基础日粮(维生素E含量44.59 mg/kg),Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组在基础日粮中分别添加50、100、200 mg/kg维生素E。结果显示:①免疫抑制产蛋鸡的产蛋率、平均蛋重和平均日采食量显著降低(P<0.05),破蛋率显著升高(P<0.05)。基础日粮中添加50 mg/kg维生素E显著提高免疫抑制产蛋鸡的产蛋率、平均蛋重和平均日采食量(P<0.05),但仍低于对照组Ⅰ(P<0.05);显著降低料蛋比和破蛋率(P<0.05)。②免疫抑制产蛋鸡的蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度和哈氏单位显著降低(P<0.05),蛋形指数和蛋黄颜色无显著改变(P>0.05);50 mg/kg维生素E添加量显著提高免疫抑制产蛋鸡的蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度和哈氏单位(P<0.05),与对照组Ⅰ无显著差异(P>0.05)。因此,免疫抑制显著降低产蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋品质;基础日粮中添加维生素E对免疫抑制蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋品质具有明显的调控效应,且以50 mg/kg添加量效果较好。     

The Productive Performance and the Correlation Analysis Between Hatchability and Egg Quality in Jiangxi Green-eggshell Layers

The purpose of this study was to provide the reference to Jiangxi Green-eggshell breeding through the analysis of laying performance, hatchability and egg quality in the first generation of Jiangxi Green-eggshell layers at 300-days old. 306 Jiangxi Green-eggshell layers and 80 eggs were selected to determine the laying performance, hatchability and egg quality among families, and the correlation between the hatchability and egg quality were analyzed also. The results were as fellows:The average body weight of these hens was 1 596.99 g, the average egg weight was 50.57 g, the average egg-laying number was 14.53, the average fertility rate was 93.69%, the average dead fertile egg rate was 5.55%, the average healthy chick rate was 84.3%, the average dead embryo egg rate was 13.9%, the average egg shape index was 1.28, the average Haugh unit was 71.77, and the average eggshell strength was 4.44 kg/cm². The healthy chick rate and the egg weight had significant correlation,as well as the eggshell color and the egg shape index (P < 0.05). The healthy chick rate had extremely significantly correlation with the dead fertile egg rate(P < 0.01), as well as the eggshell strength and the eggshell thickness (P < 0.01). Generally, the first generation of Jiangxi Green-eggshell layers had good egg quality, higher laying performance and hatchability, but they still need to be further selected.     

江西绿壳蛋鸡生产性能及孵化性能与蛋品质的相关性分析

本研究通过对江西绿壳蛋鸡F1代产蛋性能、孵化效果和蛋品质进行分析,为江西绿壳蛋鸡选育提供参考。试验选取300日龄江西绿壳蛋鸡306只及其鸡蛋80枚,分别测定、分析蛋鸡产蛋性能及种蛋孵化效果和蛋品质,并对这些指标进行相关性分析。经测定,试验蛋鸡平均体重为1 596.99 g,平均蛋重为50.57 g,平均产蛋数为14.53枚;群体平均受精率为93.69%,平均死精率为5.55%,平均健雏率为84.3%,平死胚率为13.9%。群体平均蛋形指数为1.28,平均哈氏单位为71.77,平均蛋壳强度为4.44 kg/cm²。相关分析显示,健雏率与蛋重、蛋壳颜色与蛋形指数间呈显著相关（P < 0.05）;健雏率与死胚率、蛋壳强度与蛋壳厚度间呈极显著相关（P < 0.01）。以上结果表明,江西绿壳蛋鸡F1代蛋品质优良,产蛋性能、孵化效果较好,但仍需进一步选育。     

Selection for postweaning gain in rats: II. Correlated response in reproductive performance

Reproductive performance was evaluated on lines of rats selected 34 generations for up (U) and down (D) 3- to 9-wk weight gain and from a control (C). Direct response to 3- to 9-wk weight gain was 16% in U and -8% in D lines. Inbreeding was similar among lines. Both selection lines were poorer in percentage of fertile pairs than the C line, especially so in D (P less than .10). The lines differed (P less than .05) in litter size born with means of 11.4, 10.4 and 9.6 for U, C and D, respectively. The significant positive correlated response in litter size corresponded to that expected from intraline association with female body weight. Selection for increased postweaning gain resulted in 5% earlier age but little change in weight at vaginal opening. The D line was similar to C in age, but 7% lighter in weight at vaginal opening. The U line was significantly higher (14, 12 and 69%) for ovulation rate, number of fetuses and post-implantation losses, but not for pre-implantation losses. The D females were similar to C females in all components of litter size. Males of all lines were similar in age at first mating, but U males were 22% heavier than C males in weight at first mating. A positive correlated response in weight of testes at 91 d of age disappeared when adjusted for intraline association with body weight.     

Genetic and phenotypic parameters for pig growth and body composition estimated by intraclass correlation and parent-offspring regression

Purebred Duroc and Yorkshire boars and gilts, farrowed in spring litters from 1974 through 1982 and in fall litters from 1974 through 1978, were maintained as closed select and control lines descended from the same base population. Spring-farrowed pigs were selected mainly on an index of sow productivity traits, whereas selection among fall-farrowed pigs was mainly on an index of pig performance traits. Basic traits analyzed were age of pig at 91 kg, postweaning average daily gain in weight, average backfat thickness (ABF) and longissimus muscle area (LMA), with ABF and LMA measured from ultrasonic scans at 91 kg. Also analyzed were estimated weight of trimmed wholesale lean cuts at 91 kg live weight and lean cuts growth rate from birth to 91 kg. Standardized selection differentials indicated that no significant selection pressure was applied to the four basic traits in the population. A nested analysis of variance of intraclass correlations among paternal half-sib families was computed with 1,930 gilt records, providing estimates of heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations among the six traits. Also, estimates were computed for the portion of total phenotypic variance due to maternal-related covariances among littermates and the portion due to random environmental variances among individuals. In addition, estimates of the population parameters were computed from regressions of boars and gilts on sires, dams and mid-parental values with 974 boar and 1,686 gilt deviation records. Composite parameter estimates were then computed from the separate values weighted by the inverse of their standard errors.     

Body weight and/or fatness as potential determinants of the onset of egg production in broiler breeder hens

1. In four trials during consecutive years individually‐caged birds were weighed at first egg, and in the first two trials they were then killed to determine abdominal and skin fat, in order to establish whether there is a minimal body weight and/or body fat pool required for the start of egg production in broiler breeder hens.

2. There were negative correlations ranging from significant to negligible between body weight and age at first egg. For birds of the same strain on a conventional food restriction regimen, the average weight range at first egg in the four trials was 3·3 to 3·7 kg, which may be a strain characteristic.

3. In spite of severe food restriction, all birds were very fat at first egg. The correlations between fat concentration and age at first egg were negative.

4. In mature pullets a minimum concentration of stored, easily mobilised fat may be essential for yolk formation and ovulation.

     

栖架舍饲散养模式对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及免疫机能的影响

本研究根据蛋鸡的生物学特点和行为学习性,在舍内配置栖木、采食底网、料线、水线及产蛋箱等规模饲养设施,构建了栖架舍饲散养模式,围绕其对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质与免疫机能的影响,进行了初步的应用研究。结果表明,栖架散养组开产时间推迟3周,但其平均料蛋比下降了9.05%,平均蛋重、平均产蛋率较对照组分别提高了2.62%、3.45%;栖架舍饲散养组的蛋白高度、哈氏单位、蛋形指数均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),分别提高了24.13%、8.03%、6.35%;栖架舍饲散养组的胸腺指数、脾脏指数、法氏囊指数、鸡新城疫抗体效价较对照组分别提高了5.44%、3.48%、6.57%、16.74%。综上所述,栖架舍饲散养模式有助于降低蛋鸡料蛋比,改善蛋品质,促进免疫机能的提高,体现了福利化健康养殖的需要。