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Ma Y, Cheng B, Zhou S, Wang Y, Jing Y, Leng L, Wang S, Li Y, Luan P, Cao Z, Li H. Comparative analyses of laying performance and follicular development characteristics between fat and lean broiler lines. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103250. [PMID: 37992620 PMCID: PMC10667750 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The deposition of high levels of fat in broiler breeder hens can have a profound impact on follicular development and laying performance. This study was formulated with the goal of comparing egg production and follicular development characteristics at different laying stages in the Northeast Agricultural University broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat content (NEAUHLF). The egg production was analyzed using the birds from the 19th to 24th generations of NEAUHLF; the follicular development characteristics were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using the birds from the 24th generation of NEAUHLF. The results showed that the age at first egg of lean hens was significantly earlier than that of fat hens in this study. While no significant differences in total egg output from the first egg to 50 wk of age were noted when comparing these 2 chicken lines, lean hens laid more eggs from the first egg to 35 wk of age relative to fat hens, whereas fat hens laid more eggs from wk 36 to 42 and 43 to 50 relative to their lean counterparts. No differences in ovarian morphology and small yellow follicle (SYF) histological characteristics were noted when comparing these 2 chicken lines at 27 wk of age. At 35 and 52 wk of age, however, lean hens exhibited significantly lower ovarian weight, ovarian proportion values, numbers of hierarchical follicles, hierarchical follicle weight, and SYF granulosa layer thickness as compared to fat hens, together with a significant increase in the number of prehierarchical follicles relative to those in fat hens. Gene expression analyses suggested that follicle selection was impaired in the fat hens in the early laying stage, whereas both follicle selection and maturation were impaired in the lean hens in the middle and late laying stages. Overall, these data highlight that fat deposition in broiler hens can have a range of effects on follicular development and egg production that are laying stage-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Bohan Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Sitong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Youdong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Yang Jing
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Li Leng
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Shouzhi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Yumao Li
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Peng Luan
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Zhiping Cao
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China.
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Erensoy K, Sarıca M. Fast growing broiler production from genetically different pure lines in Turkey. 1. Parental traits: growth, feed intake, reproduction, and hatching traits. Trop Anim Health Prod 2022; 54:322. [PMID: 36161536 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-022-03319-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to reveal the trends in age-related growth, feed intake, reproduction, and hatchability traits in 5 pure line (PL) breeders (3 dam [A1: slow-feathering, A2: fast-feathering, A3: slow-feathering] and 2 sire [B1: fast-feathering, B2: fast-feathering]) and their reciprocal two-way cross parent stock (PS) breeders (6 female [A1♂ × A2♀; A1♂ × A3♀; A2♂ × A1♀; A2♂ × A3♀; A3♂ × A1♀; A3♂ × A2♀] and 2 male [B1♂ × B2♀; B2♂ × B1♀]) and to identify heterotic effects in two-way cross PS combinations showing superiority over PL breeders. In the rearing period, 60 females and 15 males in the each PL group, 120 females in each female PS and 120 males in each male PS breeders, and 40 females and 5 males were used in each PL and PS genotype in the laying period. Body weight (BW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), reproductive traits (age at first egg [AFE], age at sexual maturity [ASM], egg number, weekly and total %Lay, egg weight, egg mass), hatching traits (fertility, hatchability of fertile [HOF] and set [HOS] and embryonic mortality), and heterosis (%) values for some traits were assesed. Both males and females of PLs and PSs had different BW at 4 and 8 weeks of age (P < 0.01), but had similar BW from 12 to 24 weeks of age. The A2, B1, and B2 hens had a higher BW (nearly 4000 g) than the others at 31 weeks of age (P < 0.01), and B2 hens showed a BW of more than 5000 g at 64 weeks (P < 0.001). Weekly ADFI per female in rearing, laying, and overall period was not different between groups. The A1 (179 days), A3 (183 days), two-way cross (from 175.5 to 185.5 days) hens started laying at a similar age and earlier than B1 (184 days), A2 (192 days), and B2 (194 days) hens. From AFE to 64 weeks, %Lay was the highest in the A1 line (69.7%), lowest in the B1 (45.3%) and B2 (48.8%) line, and between 56.9 and 64.8% in PS breeder hens. The PS eggs tended to have higher fertility, HOF, and HOS, and less embryonic mortality compared to PL eggs. Negative and low heterosis for AFE was observed in PS eggs, while positive heterosis for fertility, HOF, and HOS was generally observed in four-way hybrid eggs. The highest heterosis for the 64-week cumulative egg number was observed in A3 × A2 hens. Our study results show that mating of B1 × B2 males with A3 × A2 females seems more favorable in terms of higher egg or chick production. However, more knowledge is also needed for the overall efficiency of each PS, including the final performance of its hybrids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadir Erensoy
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Turkey.
| | - Musa Sarıca
- Department of Animal Science, Agricultural Faculty, Ondokuz Mayis University, 55139, Samsun, Turkey
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Zukiwsky NM, Afrouziyeh M, Robinson FE, Zuidhof MJ. Broiler growth and efficiency in response to relaxed maternal feed restriction. Poult Sci 2021; 100:100993. [PMID: 33610891 PMCID: PMC7905470 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Broiler growth performance can be influenced by maternal BW, maternal age, and sex. The present study evaluated broiler growth and efficiency in response to increased maternal BW (relaxed level of maternal feed restriction). It was hypothesized that BW and fatness would increase, and efficiency would be reduced as maternal BW increased. Ten BW trajectories were applied to precision-fed Ross 708 female broiler breeders (n = 30) from 2 to 42 wk of age. Trajectories varied in prepubertal and pubertal growth phases from 2.5 to 22.5% above the recommended BW target. Additional unrestricted breeders (n = 6) were not limited to a maximum BW (fed ad libitum). Two 35 d experiments were conducted with precision-fed broilers from these breeders at 35 and 42 wk of age. Two analyses (full and restricted analysis scopes) were performed to evaluate broiler BW, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and carcass traits with maternal BW at photostimulation (22 wk of age) as a continuous effect, and maternal age and sex as discrete effects. The full scope included broilers from all hens (feed restricted and unrestricted). The restricted scope excluded broilers from unrestricted hens. Differences were reported at P ≤ 0.05. For every kilogram increase in maternal BW, cumulative FCR increased by 0.235 and 0.471 g:g for broilers from all and feed restricted hens, respectively. Proportional gut weight of broilers from feed restricted hens decreased by 0.8244% per kilogram increase in maternal BW. Males were heavier than females on day 28 and 35, and broilers from 42-wk-old breeders were heavier than broilers from 35-wk-old breeders on day 0 and 35. Males from all hens were more feed efficient (1.318 g:g) than females (1.335 g:g) from day 29 to 35. Females from all and feed restricted hens had a greater proportional fat pad and breast muscle weight than males, and proportional breast muscle yield of broilers from 42-wk-old breeders was on average 1.04 times greater than that of broilers from 35-wk-old breeders. Maternal BW did not affect offspring BW, reduced cumulative FCR, and reduced gut weight in the restricted analysis scope.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Zukiwsky
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - M Afrouziyeh
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - F E Robinson
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - M J Zuidhof
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P5, Canada.
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Zukiwsky NM, Afrouziyeh M, Robinson FE, Zuidhof MJ. Feeding, feed-seeking behavior, and reproductive performance of broiler breeders under conditions of relaxed feed restriction. Poult Sci 2020; 100:119-128. [PMID: 33357674 PMCID: PMC7772673 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.09.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Broiler breeders are feed restricted to optimize reproductive performance. A randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate the effect of increasing female broiler breeder BW on feeding, feed-seeking behavior, and reproductive performance. It was hypothesized that a greater BW would decrease feeding and feed-seeking behavior, and reduce reproductive performance. Ross 708 female broiler breeders (n = 36) were fed using a precision feeding system from 2 to 42 wk of age. Ten BW trajectories were created from a multiphasic Gompertz growth model that increased growth from 0 to 22.5% in the prepubertal and pubertal phases of growth, in 2.5% increments. Six unrestricted birds were not limited to a maximum BW. Body weight was evaluated as a 2-way ANOVA. Two linear regression analyses were conducted, one which included all birds and one which excluded the unrestricted birds. For the regression analyses, BW at photostimulation (22 wk of age) was used as the continuous independent variable to represent the degree of variation between trajectories. Differences were reported at P ≤ 0.05. Body weight increased as trajectory-specific BW targets increased from 6 to 28 wk of age. Differences of BW between BW trajectories decreased during the laying period, which was a result of individual bird variation within BW trajectories. Station visit frequency decreased per kilogram increase in BW for all birds during rearing and lay, and within feed-restricted birds during lay only. The number of meals and ADFI increased with age, which reflected nutrient intake to support maintenance, growth, and reproductive requirements. Mean egg weight (EW) of all birds increased by 0.72 g per kilogram increase in BW from 22 to 41 wk of age. From 22 to 29 wk of age, mean EW of feed-restricted birds increased by 2.78 g per kilogram increase in BW. For every kilogram increase in BW, age at first egg comparing all birds decreased by 10.83 d. Two unrestricted birds came into lay before photostimulation. In contrast with the hypotheses, BW increased up to 22.5% above the recommended target did not reduce feeding and feed seeking behavior, or negatively impact reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Zukiwsky
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - M Afrouziyeh
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - F E Robinson
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - M J Zuidhof
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
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Brito LF, Oliveira HR, McConn BR, Schinckel AP, Arrazola A, Marchant-Forde JN, Johnson JS. Large-Scale Phenotyping of Livestock Welfare in Commercial Production Systems: A New Frontier in Animal Breeding. Front Genet 2020; 11:793. [PMID: 32849798 PMCID: PMC7411239 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic breeding programs have been paramount in improving the rates of genetic progress of productive efficiency traits in livestock. Such improvement has been accompanied by the intensification of production systems, use of a wider range of precision technologies in routine management practices, and high-throughput phenotyping. Simultaneously, a greater public awareness of animal welfare has influenced livestock producers to place more emphasis on welfare relative to production traits. Therefore, management practices and breeding technologies in livestock have been developed in recent years to enhance animal welfare. In particular, genomic selection can be used to improve livestock social behavior, resilience to disease and other stress factors, and ease habituation to production system changes. The main requirements for including novel behavioral and welfare traits in genomic breeding schemes are: (1) to identify traits that represent the biological mechanisms of the industry breeding goals; (2) the availability of individual phenotypic records measured on a large number of animals (ideally with genomic information); (3) the derived traits are heritable, biologically meaningful, repeatable, and (ideally) not highly correlated with other traits already included in the selection indexes; and (4) genomic information is available for a large number of individuals (or genetically close individuals) with phenotypic records. In this review, we (1) describe a potential route for development of novel welfare indicator traits (using ideal phenotypes) for both genetic and genomic selection schemes; (2) summarize key indicator variables of livestock behavior and welfare, including a detailed assessment of thermal stress in livestock; (3) describe the primary statistical and bioinformatic methods available for large-scale data analyses of animal welfare; and (4) identify major advancements, challenges, and opportunities to generate high-throughput and large-scale datasets to enable genetic and genomic selection for improved welfare in livestock. A wide variety of novel welfare indicator traits can be derived from information captured by modern technology such as sensors, automatic feeding systems, milking robots, activity monitors, video cameras, and indirect biomarkers at the cellular and physiological levels. The development of novel traits coupled with genomic selection schemes for improved welfare in livestock can be feasible and optimized based on recently developed (or developing) technologies. Efficient implementation of genetic and genomic selection for improved animal welfare also requires the integration of a multitude of scientific fields such as cell and molecular biology, neuroscience, immunology, stress physiology, computer science, engineering, quantitative genomics, and bioinformatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz F. Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Hinayah R. Oliveira
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Betty R. McConn
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Allan P. Schinckel
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Aitor Arrazola
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | | | - Jay S. Johnson
- USDA-ARS Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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