1. A novel 31-bp indel polymorphism in intron 3 of the chicken paired box 7 (PAX7) gene was identified and genotyped in an F2 resource population of Gushi chicken crossed with Anka broiler to analyse its associations with chicken growth, carcass and meat quality traits.
2. Results showed that the 31-bp indel was significantly associated with body weight at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks of age and body size indices including shank length, shank girth, body slanting length at 8 and 12 weeks of age. Significant associations were found for carcass weight, semi-evisceration weight, evisceration weight, breast muscle fibre diameter, leg muscle fibre diameter, breast muscle fibre density, while no significant association with leg muscle fibre density was observed.
3. It was concluded that the 31-bp indel in intron 3 of the PAX7 gene was associated with chicken growth, carcass and meat quality traits where the 31-bp deletion had a negative effect on chicken growth and carcass traits and positive effect on meat quality traits. 相似文献
In order to use rice straw as forage in livestock feeding, the effects of steam-treated rice straw (at 15.5 kgf/cm2 for 120 s) feeding on growth performance, plasma volatile fatty acid profile, and nutrient digestibility of goats were determined. Twenty male goats (18.69?±?0.34 kg) were used in an 84-day trial. The goats were divided into four groups of five goats each to receive steam-treated (STRS) or untreated (UTRS) rice straw diet under closed house (CH) and open house (OH) systems. The results revealed that the goats fed with STRS had significantly higher dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility; similarly, the average daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio were higher for STRS groups under both CH and OH systems than those for UTRS. The plasma protein and insulin in STRS and cholesterol in UTRS groups was higher (P?0.05) at 60 days but found not different (P?>?0.05) at 30 days. The plasma amylase, lipase, T3, T4 and glucagon at 30 and 60 days were not different (P?>?0.05) among the groups. The plasma acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total volatile fatty acid were higher (P?0.05) in STRS groups at 30 and 60 days. The housing conditions had no effects (P?>?0.05) on these parameters. It could be concluded that steam treatment of rice straw at 15.5 kgf/cm2 for 120 s increased apparent nutrient digestibility, hence increased the growth and feed efficiency of growing goats. 相似文献