Analysis of selection progress in populations of the Tsarskoye Selo breed of chickens based on exterior data
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Growing interest in organic production, sustainability and animal welfare is driving demand for poultry of combined productivity. The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic distances between 2017 and 2021 generations of Tsarskoye Selo breed and their ancestral populations, and to perform a comparative analysis of changes in exterior appearance to assess the genetic and phenotypic progress. Populations of New Hampshire (n = 19), Cornish (n = 22), as well as two generations of Tsarskoye selo breed – 2017 (n = 31) and 2021 (n = 98) were used as material for the study. Fst genetic distances and genetic diversity scores were calculated based on genome-wide genotyping data. Statistical analysis of the exterior assessment data of two generations of Tsarskoye Selo breed was performed using GraphPad Prism 10. Divergent clustering of Tsarskoye Selo breed generations was revealed, which indicates genetic differences that arose as a result of selection and partly genetic drift. High values of observed heterozygosity (0.246 ± 0.001) and allelic diversity (1.962 ± 0.001) in the Tsarskoye selo population of 2021 are consistent with the negative value of the inbreeding coefficient (-0.025 ± 0.001), which indicates great genetic potential. A significant increase in live weight (by 0.47 kg for hens and 0.23 kg for roosters), oblique body length (by 0.53 cm for hens and 0.26 cm for roosters), chest girth (by 3.08 cm for hens), tibia length (1.06 cm for roosters), femur length (0.52 cm for hens and 0.79 cm for roosters), pelvic width (0.9 cm for hens) and clavicle width (by 1.05 cm for hens and 0.73 cm for roosters) was revealed, which indicated an enlargement of the skeleton of roosters and a harmonious increase in the body size of hens. The research results indicate successful breeding work while maintaining the potential for genetic diversity. This allows to assume that Tsarskoye Selo breed will become a promising poultry breeding object both for farms and for industrial production.
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7203789577