Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: In this study, we pursued three primary objectives: firstly to test and validate the phenotyping of backfat thickness as an indicator of the overall fatness of laying hens; secondly, to estimate genetic parameters for this trait; thirdly, to study the phenotypic and genetic relationships between this trait and other traits related to production and body composition. To address these questions, hens from two lines under divergent selection for residual feed intake, were phenotyped for body weight, body composition traits (backfat, total fat volume, and blood adipokines levels), and egg number. Linear mixed models enabled to estimate variance components and calculate genetic parameters. The two lines largely differed in body fatness: the efficient line had larger backfat and lower chemerin levels compared to the inefficient line. However, there were no significantly differences between the two lines concerning body weight, total fat volume, other blood adipokines levels (adiponectin, ghrelin, and visfatin), and egg production. The genetic parameter estimation revealed moderate heritability (0.38 and 0.42) for backfat and body weight, high heritability (higher than 0.80) for blood adipokines levels and low heritability (0.24 and 0.27) for egg production and total fat volume. The backfat and total fat volume were genetically highly and positively correlated (0.91). The body weight and total fat volume were also highly positively correlated (0.67). However, backfat and body weight were moderately positively correlated (0.39). The genetic correlation between backfat and egg number was moderate and negative. In conclusion, backfat could provide additional genetic information to that of the body weight as a selection criterion for body reserves. However, its correlation with laying performance should be taken into account to avoid undesired responses to selection
Source: Peer Community Journal
Authors: Nicolas Bédère, Joëlle Dupont, Yannick Baumard, Christophe Staub, David Gourichon, Elleboudt Frédéric, Pascale Le Roy, Tatiana Zerjal
Institutions: Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Physiologie, Environnement et Génétique pour l'Animal et les Systèmes d'Elevage, L'Institut Agro, Université de Tours, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Unité Expérimentale Avicole, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4385331738