1
|
Neeteson AM, Avendaño S, Koerhuis A, Duggan B, Souza E, Mason J, Ralph J, Rohlf P, Burnside T, Kranis A, Bailey R. Evolutions in Commercial Meat Poultry Breeding. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3150. [PMID: 37835756 PMCID: PMC10571742 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the history of commercial poultry breeding, from domestication to the development of science and commercial breeding structures. The development of breeding goals over time, from mainly focusing on production to broad goals, including bird welfare and health, robustness, environmental impact, biological efficiency and reproduction, is detailed. The paper outlines current breeding goals, including traits (e.g., on foot and leg health, contact dermatitis, gait, cardiovascular health, robustness and livability), recording techniques, their genetic basis and how trait these antagonisms, for example, between welfare and production, are managed. Novel areas like genomic selection and gut health research and their current and potential impact on breeding are highlighted. The environmental impact differences of various genotypes are explained. A future outlook shows that balanced, holistic breeding will continue to enable affordable lean animal protein to feed the world, with a focus on the welfare of the birds and a diversity of choice for the various preferences and cultures across the world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Santiago Avendaño
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Alfons Koerhuis
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| | | | - Eduardo Souza
- Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL 35805, USA; (E.S.); (J.M.)
| | - James Mason
- Aviagen Inc., Huntsville, AL 35805, USA; (E.S.); (J.M.)
| | - John Ralph
- Aviagen Turkeys Ltd., Tattenhall CH3 9GA, UK;
| | - Paige Rohlf
- Aviagen Turkeys Inc., Lewisburg, WV 24901, USA;
| | - Tim Burnside
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Andreas Kranis
- Aviagen Ltd., Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (B.D.); or (A.K.)
- The Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Richard Bailey
- Aviagen Group, Newbridge EH28 8SZ, UK; (S.A.); (A.K.); (T.B.); (R.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bessa Ferreira VH, Dutour M, Oscarsson R, Gjøen J, Jensen P. Effects of domestication on responses of chickens and red junglefowl to conspecific calls: A pilot study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0279553. [PMID: 36584172 PMCID: PMC9803126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Beyond physical and zootechnical characteristics, the process of animal domestication has also altered how domesticated individuals, compared to their wild counterparts, perceive, process, and interact with their environment. Little is known, however, on whether and how domestication altered the perception of conspecific calls on both domesticated and wild breeds. In the present work, we compared the vigilance behavior of domestic and captive-born wild fowl following the playback of chicken alarm calls and contentment calls (control). The playback tests were performed on four different breeds/lines. We first compared the behavioral reaction of domesticated White Leghorn (WL, a breed selected for egg production) and Red Junglefowl (RJF) hens (ancestor of domestic chickens). We also compared the behavior of Red Junglefowl hens selected for high or low fear of humans (RJF HF and RJF LF, respectively), a proxy to investigate early effects of domestication. Contrary to our expectations, no breed/line reacted accordingly to the calls, as the increase in vigilance behavior after the playback calls was similar for both alarm and contentment calls. Although no call discrimination differences were found, breeds did differ on how they reacted/habituated to the calls. Overall, WL were more vigilant than RJF, and birds from the RJF LF line decreased their vigilance over testing days, while this was not the case for the RJF HF line. These results suggest that birds under commercial-like conditions are unable to discriminate between alarm and contentment calls. Interestingly, domestication and selection for low fear of humans may have altered how birds react to vocal stimuli. It is important to consider that farmed animals may interpret and be affected by the vocalizations of their conspecifics in unexpected ways, which warrants further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Hugo Bessa Ferreira
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,* E-mail: (PJ); (VHBF)
| | - Mylène Dutour
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Rebecca Oscarsson
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Gjøen
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Jensen
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behavioural Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,* E-mail: (PJ); (VHBF)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhu T, Liu M, Peng S, Zhang X, Chen Y, Lv X, Yang W, Li K, Zhang J, Wang H, Li H, Ning Z, Wang L, Qu L. A Deletion Upstream of SOX10 Causes Light Yellow Plumage Colour in Chicken. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:327. [PMID: 35205371 PMCID: PMC8872211 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chicken plumage colour is a complex trait controlled by many genes. Herein, through Rhode Island Red (RIR) and White Leghorn (WL) F1 cross populations, the segregation of plumage color was observed in females, showing white in males, and dark red (DR) and light yellow (LY) in females. The white has been found to be caused by dominant white alleles (I) and the DR phenotype is attributed to a sex-linked recessive silver allele (S∗S). LY is a derived feather colour phenotype and the genetic mechanism of this is unclear. In order to explore the genetic basis for LY, we randomly selected 40 DR and 39 LY chickens for paired-end sequencing. Through the use of association analysis, we found the LY phenotype is caused by a 7.6 kb non-coding deletion near the SOX10 gene. This mutation has been reported to be responsible for dark brown plumage in chicken, and subsequent diagnostic PCR tests showed that the length of the long-range non-coding deletion is 7.6 kb instead of 8.3 kb as previously reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.Z.); (X.Z.); (Z.N.)
| | - Mengchao Liu
- Beijing Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100005, China;
| | - Shan Peng
- Guiyang Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Guizhou 550081, China; (S.P.); (L.W.)
| | - Xinye Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.Z.); (X.Z.); (Z.N.)
| | - Yu Chen
- Beijing Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Beijing 100107, China; (Y.C.); (X.L.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Xueze Lv
- Beijing Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Beijing 100107, China; (Y.C.); (X.L.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Weifang Yang
- Beijing Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Beijing 100107, China; (Y.C.); (X.L.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Kaiyang Li
- Beijing Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Beijing 100107, China; (Y.C.); (X.L.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- Beijing Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Beijing 100107, China; (Y.C.); (X.L.); (W.Y.); (K.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Huie Wang
- College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar 843300, China;
| | - Haiying Li
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumchi 830000, China;
| | - Zhonghua Ning
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.Z.); (X.Z.); (Z.N.)
| | - Liang Wang
- Guiyang Municipal General Station of Animal Science, Guizhou 550081, China; (S.P.); (L.W.)
| | - Lujiang Qu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; (T.Z.); (X.Z.); (Z.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Suzuki K, Okanoya K. Domestication effects on aggressiveness: Comparison of biting motivation and bite force between wild and domesticated finches. Behav Processes 2021; 193:104503. [PMID: 34537267 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Domesticated animals evolve unique traits, known as the domestication phenotypes or the domestication syndrome, due to their adaptation to a captive environment and changes in selection pressures. After being tamed, the Bengalese finch (Lonchura striata var. domestica) has undergone behavioural and physiological trait changes that differ from those of its wild ancestor, the white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata). The Bengalese finch has complex songs, lower fear response, and lower corticosterone levels than those in the white-rumped munia. We hypothesised that domesticated finches would exert less effort to maintain survival fitness for wild conditions because they are no longer subjected to natural selection pressures. Instead, they have been artificially selected by humans. Bite performance, denoting aggression affects survival rates, and is an indicator of adaptability in the wild. Furthermore, aggression is important as a behavioural trait influenced by domestication. Therefore, we compared the aggressiveness and biting force of white-rumped munias with those of Bengalese finches to explore the evolutionary mechanisms of behavioural changes due to domestication. Bengalese finches had decreased bite motivation and force compared to white-rumped munias. Domestication may have reduced aggression in Bengalese finches by eliminating the need to cope with predators and because of artificial selection by humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Suzuki
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Nihon Institute of Medical Science, Moroyama-machi 350-0435, Japan; JST, ERATO, Okanoya Emotional Information Project, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Cognition and Behavior Joint Research Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
| | - Kazuo Okanoya
- Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan; JST, ERATO, Okanoya Emotional Information Project, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan; Cognition and Behavior Joint Research Laboratory, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Katajamaa R, Wright D, Henriksen R, Jensen P. Cerebellum size is related to fear memory and domestication of chickens. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200790. [PMID: 33529547 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) were selected for divergent levels of fear of humans during eight generations, causing the selection lines to differ in fear levels as well as in the proportional brain and cerebellum masses. Birds from the two lines were then crossed to obtain an F3 intercross in order to study the correlations between brain mass and fear learning. We exposed 105 F3-animals individually to a fear habituation and memory test at 8 days of age, where the reactions to repeated light flashes were assessed on 2 consecutive days. After culling, the absolute and relative sizes of each of four brain regions were measured. Stepwise regression was used to analyse the effects of the size of each brain region on habituation and memory. There were no effects of any brain region on the habituation on day one. However, birds with a larger absolute size of cerebellum had significantly reduced reactions to the fearful stimuli on day two, indicating a better memory of the stimuli. No other regions had significant effects. We conclude that increased cerebellum size may have been important in facilitating chicken domestication, allowing them to adapt to a life with humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominic Wright
- IFM-Biology, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rie Henriksen
- IFM-Biology, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Jensen
- IFM-Biology, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Katajamaa R, Jensen P. Tameness correlates with domestication related traits in a Red Junglefowl intercross. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 20:e12704. [PMID: 32969588 PMCID: PMC7988571 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Early animal domestication may have been driven by selection on tameness. Selection on only tameness can bring about correlated selection responses in other traits, not intentionally selected upon, which may be one cause of the domesticated phenotype. We predicted that genetically reduced fear towards humans in Red Junglefowl, ancestors of domesticated chickens, would be correlated to other traits included in the domesticated phenotype. Fear level was determined by a standardised behaviour test, where the reaction towards an approaching human was recorded. We first selected birds for eight generations for either high or low fear levels in this test, to create two divergent selection lines. An F3 intercross, with birds from the eighth generation as parentals, was generated to study correlations between fear‐of‐human scores and other unselected phenotypes, possibly caused by pleiotropy or linkage. Low fear‐of‐human scores were associated with higher body weight and growth rates, and with increased activity in an open field test, indicating less general fearfulness. In females, low fear‐of‐human scores were also associated with more efficient fear habituation and in males with an increased tendency to emit food calls in a mirror test, indicating increased social dominance. Low fear‐of‐human scores were also associated with smaller brain relative to body weight, and with larger cerebrum relative to total brain weight in females. All these effects are in line with the changes observed in domesticated chickens compared to their ancestors, and we conclude that tameness may have been a driving factor underlying some aspects of the domesticated phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Per Jensen
- IFM Biology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|