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Piles M, Mora M, Kyriazakis I, Tusell L, Pascual M, Sánchez JP. Novel phenotypes of feeding and social behaviour and their relationship with individual rabbit growth and feed efficiency. Animal 2024; 18:101090. [PMID: 38377814 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the lack of a recording system for individual consumption of group-housed rabbits, published studies about feeding behaviour are based on information recorded at the group- and not at the individual level and periods covering only a few days or, in some cases, only part of a day. Such information could be used to inform rabbit management systems but cannot be used for genetic selection. We aimed to generate and use information from a novel automated feeder for group-housed rabbits to identify new phenotypes for individual animals that could be incorporated into breeding programs to improve feed efficiency and social behaviour under different feeding regimens. At 39 d of age, rabbits from 15 batches were placed in cages and fed ad libitum to become used to the electronic feeder. From 42 to 58-59 d, one group of 1 086 rabbits was fed ad libitum (AL), while another group of 1 134 rabbits was fed on a restricted feeding schedule (R) by limiting the feeding time to the period between 1800 and 0600 h of the following day. We implemented a reliable multivariate method to remove anomalous feeding behaviour records. We then defined novel traits for feeding behaviour that apply to both types of feeding regimes, and for social behaviour that indicates an animal's rank within the cage hierarchy. We based these traits on feeder records and a biologically sound definition of a meal. Finally, we estimated the phenotypic correlations of those traits with growth and feed efficiency traits. Our findings demonstrate that variables about resource distribution among cage mates and an animal's priority for feed access were found to be good indicators of an animal's dominant or subordinate status within the cage. Based on results obtained in R animals (results were similar in AL animals), the most efficient animals were those that ate less frequently (phenotypic correlation with feed conversion ratio, rho = 0.6), and consumed smaller amounts per meal (rho = 0.7), spent less time at the feeder (rho = 0.4), and appeared to be subordinate, as they did not have priority access to the feeder (rho = -0.3), and had the smallest share of resources (range of rho = 0.2-0.6). We conclude that quantifying feeding and social behaviour traits can enhance the understanding of the mechanisms through which individuals exert their effects on the performance of their cage mates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Mora
- Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Kyriazakis
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Biological Sciences, 19 Chlorine Gardens, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - L Tusell
- Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Pascual
- Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
| | - J P Sánchez
- Animal Breeding and Genetics, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Caldes de Montbui, 08140 Barcelona, Spain
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Sánchez JP, Legarra A, Velasco-Galilea M, Piles M, Sánchez A, Rafel O, González-Rodríguez O, Ballester M. Genome-wide association study for feed efficiency in collective cage-raised rabbits under full and restricted feeding. Anim Genet 2020; 51:799-810. [PMID: 32697387 PMCID: PMC7540659 DOI: 10.1111/age.12988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Feed efficiency (FE) is one of the most economically and environmentally relevant traits in the animal production sector. The objective of this study was to gain knowledge about the genetic control of FE in rabbits. To this end, GWASs were conducted for individual growth under two feeding regimes (full feeding and restricted) and FE traits collected from cage groups, using 114 604 autosome SNPs segregating in 438 rabbits. Two different models were implemented: (1) an animal model with a linear regression on each SNP allele for growth trait; and (2) a two‐trait animal model, jointly fitting the performance trait and each SNP allele content, for FE traits. This last modeling strategy is a new tool applied to GWAS and allows information to be considered from non‐genotyped individuals whose contribution is relevant in the group average traits. A total of 189 SNPs in 17 chromosomal regions were declared to be significantly associated with any of the five analyzed traits at a chromosome‐wide level. In 12 of these regions, 20 candidate genes were proposed to explain the variation of the analyzed traits, including genes such as FTO, NDUFAF6 and CEBPA previously associated with growth and FE traits in monogastric species. Candidate genes associated with behavioral patterns were also identified. Overall, our results can be considered as the foundation for future functional research to unravel the actual causal mutations regulating growth and FE in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Sánchez
- Animal Breeding and Genetic Program, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain
| | - A Legarra
- GenPhySE, National Institute for Agronomic Research, Castanet-Tolosan, 31326, France
| | - M Velasco-Galilea
- Animal Breeding and Genetic Program, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain
| | - M Piles
- Animal Breeding and Genetic Program, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain
| | - A Sánchez
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola, 08193, Spain
| | - O Rafel
- Animal Breeding and Genetic Program, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain
| | - O González-Rodríguez
- Animal Breeding and Genetic Program, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain
| | - M Ballester
- Animal Breeding and Genetic Program, Institute of Agriculture and Food Research and Technology, Caldes de Montbui, 08140, Spain
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Maya-Soriano MJ, Taberner E, Sabés-Alsina M, Ramon J, Rafel O, Tusell L, Piles M, López-Béjar M. Daily exposure to summer temperatures affects the motile subpopulation structure of epididymal sperm cells but not male fertility in an in vivo rabbit model. Theriogenology 2015; 84:384-9. [PMID: 25944779 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
High temperatures have negative effects on sperm quality leading to temporary or permanent sterility. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of long exposure to summer circadian heat stress cycles on sperm parameters and the motile subpopulation structure of epididymal sperm cells from rabbit bucks. Twelve White New Zealand rabbit bucks were exposed to a daily constant temperature of the thermoneutral zone (from 18 °C to 22 °C; control group) or exposed to a summer circadian heat stress cycles (30 °C, 3 h/day; heat stress group). Spermatozoa were flushed from the epididymis and assessed for sperm quality parameters at recovery. Sperm total motility and progressivity were negatively affected by high temperatures (P < 0.05), as were also specific motility parameters (curvilinear velocity, linear velocity, mean velocity, straightness coefficient, linearity coefficient, wobble coefficient, and frequency of head displacement; P < 0.05, but not the mean amplitude of lateral head displacement). Heat stress significantly increased the percentage of less-motile sperm subpopulations, although the percentage of the high-motile subpopulation was maintained, which is consistent with the fact that no effect was detected on fertility rates. However, prolificacy was reduced in females submitted to heat stress when inseminated by control bucks. In conclusion, our results suggest that environmental high temperatures are linked to changes in the proportion of motile sperm subpopulations of the epididymis, although fertility is still preserved despite the detrimental effects of heat stress. On the other hand, prolificacy seems to be affected by the negative effects of high temperatures, especially by altering female reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Maya-Soriano
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - E Taberner
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Sabés-Alsina
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Ramon
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - O Rafel
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Tusell
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M López-Béjar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Piles M, Baselga M, Sánchez JP. Expected responses to different strategies of selection to increase heat tolerance assessed by changes in litter size in rabbit. J Anim Sci 2014; 92:4306-12. [PMID: 25149328 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2014-7616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Response on litter size (LS) to selection based on EBV of the own trait and several indexes including EBV of 1 or more parameters of a reaction norm model (RNM) was evaluated by simulation. The RNM described animal's performance under different environmental temperatures assuming that this has an animal-specific effect on LS beyond an animal-specific temperature threshold (i.e., it had 3 parameters: intercept [Int], slope [Slp], and threshold [Thr]). Litter size data were generated assuming this model under 2 environmental conditions (comfort [CC] and comfort-to-heat [CtHC]). Variance components for Int, Slp, Thr, and LS were taken from literature. The initial base population consisted of 125 females and 25 males. Ten generations of selection were conducted keeping constant the population size. Eight different selection criteria were considered, depending on both the evaluation model and the index combining EBV for 1 or more parameters of the RNM. In 1 case selection was based on EBV of the own trait predicted by using a repeatability animal model. In the other 7 cases the genetic evaluation was conducted using the same model as that used in the simulation. For each scenario 25 replicates were conducted and response to selection was assessed within replicate as the difference between generations in the average of trait. Results indicate that, under the studied conditions and for the used genetic parameters, selection based on the observed trait seems to have the same effect as selection based on some index, including EBV of the RNM parameters. In addition, response to selection could be greater under CtHC rather than CC. Animals selected exclusively for EBV of the Slp and Thr are not expected to have good performance under CC. Under CtHC, selection for LS has a major response on those parameters, whereas response on Int was very small. Under CC, response to selection on LS is mainly determined by a change in Int, whereas Slp does not change and Thr slightly increases. Selection based on EBV of Slp, Thr, or on an index including both seems to have the same effect on the trait and it was doubly effective in modifying the shape of the RNM under CtHC than under CC. Selection based on EBV of Thr and Slp does not seem to lead to any response in LS. Selection based on EBV of Int seems to have no effect on the trait or on animal's tolerance to heat under CtHC, but it would lead to a positive response in LS under CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- Genetica i Millora Animal, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Baselga
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia Animal, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, Valencia 46026, Spain
| | - J P Sánchez
- Genetica i Millora Animal, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
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Piles M, Mocé ML, Laborda P, Santacreu MA. Feasibility of selection for male contribution to embryo survival as a way of improving male reproductive performance and semen quality in rabbits. J Anim Sci 2013; 91:4654-8. [PMID: 23942704 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2013-6446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this research was assess the male contribution to the number of implanted embryos (IE) and embryo survival (ES) estimated as the rate of variance due to male genetic and permanent environmental effects regarding total variance. In prolific species, the number of embryos and ES at early stages of gestation could be considered as fertility measurements because it indicates the number and rate of fertilized ova which are able to initiate the embryo development. Analyzed traits were ovulation rate (OR) estimated as the number of corpora lutea in both ovaries, IE estimated as the number of implantation sites, and ES calculated as IE/OR. A total of 1477 records from 900 females were used to analyze OR, whereas 1081 records from 855 females and 201 males were used to analyze IE and ES. The number of animals in the pedigree was 1107. The model included the systematic effects of year-season, parity order, lactation, and the random effects of additive genetics and permanent environmental effects due to the female (for OR) or both sexes (for IE and ES). Gibbs sampling was used to estimate posterior distributions of model parameters. The heritabilities of the male contribution to IE and ES were low (0.05 [0.01, 0.10] and 0.07 [0.02, 0.12]) but these estimates are probably biased downward since laparoscopy was only performed on those does that were pregnant at d 12 of gestation, instead of on all mated does. The genetic correlations between all analyzed traits and also between male and female genetic components of IE and ES were inaccurate, and it was not possible to draw any conclusion about them. The proportion of variation due to the male nonadditive genetic plus permanent environmental effects for IE and ES was almost negligible (0.027 [0.001, 0.058] and 0.031 [0.002, 0.068] for IE and ES, respectively), being the repeatability for male contribution on IE and ES around 8 and 10%, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- IRTA, Torre Marimon s/n, E-08140 Caldes de Montbuí, Barcelona, Spain
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Piles M, Díez J, del Coz J, Montañés E, Quevedo J, Ramon J, Rafel O, López-Béjar M, Tusell L. Predicting fertility from seminal traits: Performance of several parametric and non-parametric procedures. Livest Sci 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2013.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Piles M, Tusell L, Rafel O, Ramon J, Sánchez JP. Effect of heat intensity and persistency on prolificacy and preweaning kit growth at different stages of the rabbit production cycle1. J Anim Sci 2013; 91:633-43. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2012-5455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M. Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L. Tusell
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - O. Rafel
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. Ramon
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. P. Sánchez
- Genetica i Millora Animal, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
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Abstract
The objective of the present study was to quantify the extent of the interaction between temperature and animal-specific effects on prolificacy and average weaning weight in rabbit does and to assess to what extent this interaction has a genetic determination. For this purpose, 18,491 total born (TB) records from 5,929 Caldes does, as well as 16,868 weaned kits (NW) and average weaning weight (AvgWW) records from 5,353 does of the same line were used. Four models were considered, ranging from the simplest, which assumed no effect of temperature on the traits studied, to the most complex, which allowed for different slopes of response and thresholds for heat tolerance for each animal. Deviance information criteria (DIC) were adopted as model choice criteria. The model postulating that each animal is subjected to a linear change in its performance when the temperature reaches a certain animal-specific threshold was preferred for all the considered traits. This interaction has the greatest effect for AvgWW; the ratio between the variance associated to the intercept and the total variance declined from 29.1% at 19°C to 19.4% at 25°C. This decline results from the increase in the variation associated with the interaction of the individual effects with temperature and also from the covariance between this interaction term and the intercepts. An important part of this interaction has a genetic origin, particularly for AvgWW and NW, for which the estimated heritability increased from 0.11 to 0.24 and 0.06 to 0.10, respectively, from 19 to 25°C. Similarly, it was found that the proportion of the total variance for the individual effects involved in the interaction with temperature which have a genetic origin is high for all the traits, around one-half for the variation on the linear changes in the performance and more than one-third for the variation on the onsets for heat stress. However, the error associated with these estimates is large and results must be considered with caution. Thus, in conclusion the extent of the interaction between individual variation and in farm temperature seems to be important and has a genetic origin. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the estimated genetic parameters is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Sánchez
- Genetica i Millora Animal, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
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Tusell L, Legarra A, García-Tomás M, Rafel O, Ramon J, Piles M. Genetic basis of semen traits and their relationship with growth rate in rabbits1. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:1385-97. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- L. Tusell
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A. Legarra
- INRA UR 631 Station d'Améloration Génétique des Animaux, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - M. García-Tomás
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - O. Rafel
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J. Ramon
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M. Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon s/n, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, Spain
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Tusell L, David I, Bodin L, Legarra A, Rafel O, López-Bejar M, Piles M. Using the product threshold model for estimating separately the effect of temperature on male and female fertility. J Anim Sci 2011; 89:3983-95. [PMID: 21764834 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-3924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals under environmental thermal stress conditions have reduced fertility due to impairment of some mechanisms involved in their reproductive performance that are different in males and females. As a consequence, the most sensitive periods of time and the magnitude of effect of temperature on fertility can differ between sexes. The objective of this study was to estimate separately the effect of temperature in different periods around the insemination time on male and on female fertility by using the product threshold model. This model assumes that an observed reproduction outcome is the result of the product of 2 unobserved variables corresponding to the unobserved fertilities of the 2 individuals involved in the mating. A total of 7,625 AI records from rabbits belonging to a line selected for growth rate and indoor daily temperature records were used. The average maximum daily temperature and the proportion of days in which the maximum temperature was greater than 25°C were used as temperature descriptors. These descriptors were calculated for several periods around the day of AI. In the case of males, 4 periods of time covered different stages of the spermatogenesis, the transit through the epididymus of the sperm, and the day of AI. For females, 5 periods of time covered the phases of preovulatory follicular maturation including day of AI and ovulation, fertilization and peri-implantational stage of the embryos, embryonic and early fetal periods of gestation, and finally, late gestation until birth. The effect of the different temperature descriptors was estimated in the corresponding male and female liabilities in a set of threshold product models. The temperature of the day of AI seems to be the most relevant temperature descriptor affecting male fertility because greater temperature records on the day of AI caused a decrease in male fertility (-6% in male fertility rate with respect to thermoneutrality). Departures from the thermal zone in temperature descriptors covering several periods before AI until early gestation had a negative effect on female fertility, with the pre- and peri-implantational period of the embryos being especially sensitive (from -5 to -6% in female fertility rate with respect to thermoneutrality). The latest period of gestation was unaffected by the temperature. Overall, magnitude and persistency of the temperatures reached in the conditions of this study do not seem to be great enough to have a large effect on male and female rabbit fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Tusell
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Barcelona, Spain.
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Tusell L, Legarra A, García-Tomás M, Rafel O, Ramon J, Piles M. Different ways to model biological relationships between fertility and pH of the semen in rabbits1. J Anim Sci 2011; 89:1294-303. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2010-3242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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David I, Carabaño MJ, Tusell L, Diaz C, González-Recio O, López de Maturana E, Piles M, Ugarte E, Bodin L. Product versus additive model for studying artificial insemination results in several livestock populations. J Anim Sci 2011; 89:321-8. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2010-3167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Tusell L, García-Tomás M, Baselga M, Rekaya R, Rafel O, Ramon J, López-Bejar M, Piles M. Interaction of genotype × artificial insemination conditions for male effect on fertility and prolificacy1. J Anim Sci 2010; 88:3475-85. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2009-2773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Orengo J, Piles M, Rafel O, Ramon J, Gómez EA. Crossbreeding parameters for growth and feed consumption traits from a five diallel mating scheme in rabbits. J Anim Sci 2009; 87:1896-905. [PMID: 19251917 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2008-1029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-five genetic groups of young rabbits originated from a diallel-crossbreeding scheme among 5 selected lines: 3 maternal and 2 terminal sire lines belonging to 2 Spanish research institutions. A sample of 2,773 young rabbits from 525 litters was controlled during the fattening period lasting from 5 to 9 wk. Growth and feed consumption traits were evaluated throughout different biweekly batches. A Bayesian approach was used for inference from an animal model with common litter effects. On average, genetic groups coming from lines selected for growth rate were heavier (+58.9 g at 32 d and +315.5 g at 60 d), had greater growth rate (9.24 and 8.15 g/d from individual or cage analysis, respectively) and feed intake (+13.24 g/d), and showed better feed conversion ratio (-0.21 g of intake/g of gain), than the genetic groups originated from crosses among lines selected for litter size. Crossbreeding parameters were estimated from the samples of the marginal posterior distribution of the genetic group effect according to the Dickerson model. Maternal genetic and individual heterosis effects were null or very low. Direct genetic effects mainly regulated the expression of growth traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Orengo
- Dpto. de Producción Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Campus de Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
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Forni S, Piles M, Blasco A, Varona L, Oliveira HN, Lôbo RB, Albuquerque LG. Comparison of different nonlinear functions to describe Nelore cattle growth1. J Anim Sci 2009; 87:496-506. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2008-0845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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García-Tomás M, Sánchez J, Piles M. Postnatal sexual development of testis and epididymis in the rabbit: Growth and maturity patterns of macroscopic and microscopic markers. Theriogenology 2009; 71:292-301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2007] [Revised: 07/13/2008] [Accepted: 07/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Forni S, Piles M, Blasco A, Varona L, Oliveira HN, Lôbo RB, Albuquerque LG. Analysis of beef cattle longitudinal data applying a nonlinear model1. J Anim Sci 2007; 85:3189-97. [PMID: 17644784 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2006-677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this work was to evaluate the Nelore beef cattle, growth curve parameters using the Von Bertalanffy function in a nested Bayesian procedure that allowed estimation of the joint posterior distribution of growth curve parameters, their (co)variance components, and the environmental and additive genetic components affecting them. A hierarchical model was applied; each individual had a growth trajectory described by the nonlinear function, and each parameter of this function was considered to be affected by genetic and environmental effects that were described by an animal model. Random samples of the posterior distributions were drawn using Gibbs sampling and Metropolis-Hastings algorithms. The data set consisted of a total of 145,961 BW recorded from 15,386 animals. Even though the curve parameters were estimated for animals with few records, given that the information from related animals and the structure of systematic effects were considered in the curve fitting, all mature BW predicted were suitable. A large additive genetic variance for mature BW was observed. The parameter a of growth curves, which represents asymptotic adult BW, could be used as a selection criterion to control increases in adult BW when selecting for growth rate. The effect of maternal environment on growth was carried through to maturity and should be considered when evaluating adult BW. Other growth curve parameters showed small additive genetic and maternal effects. Mature BW and parameter k, related to the slope of the curve, presented a large, positive genetic correlation. The results indicated that selection for growth rate would increase adult BW without substantially changing the shape of the growth curve. Selection to change the slope of the growth curve without modifying adult BW would be inefficient because their genetic correlation is large. However, adult BW could be considered in a selection index with its corresponding economic weight to improve the overall efficiency of beef cattle production.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Forni
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884900, Brazil
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Abstract
A Bayesian procedure, which allows consideration of the individual variation in the feed resource allocation pattern, is described and implemented in 2 sire lines of rabbit (Caldes and R). The procedure is based on a hierarchical Bayesian scheme, where the first stage of the model consists of a multiple regression model of feed intake on metabolic BW and BW gain. In a second stage, an animal model was assumed including batch, parity order, litter size, and common environmental litter effects. Animals were reared during the fattening period (from weaning at 32 d of age to 60 d of age) in individual cages on an experimental farm, and were fed ad libitum with a commercial diet. Body weight (g) and cumulative feed intake (g) were recorded weekly. Individual BW gain (g) and average BW (ABW, g) were calculated from these data for each 7-d period. Metabolic BW (g(0.75)) was estimated as ABW(0.75). The number of animals actually measured was 444 and 445 in the Caldes and R lines, respectively. Marginal posterior distributions of the genetic parameters were obtained by Gibbs sampling. Posterior means (posterior SD) for heritabilities for partial coefficients of regression of feed intake on metabolic BW and feed intake on BW gain were estimated to be 0.35 (0.17) and 0.40 (0.17), respectively, in the Caldes line and 0.26 (0.19) and 0.27 (0.14), respectively, in line R. The estimated posterior means (posterior SD) for the proportion of the phenotypic variance due to common litter environmental effects of the same coefficients of regression were respectively, 0.39 (0.14) and 0.28 (0.13) in the Caldes line and 0.44 (0.22) and 0.49 (0.14) in line R. These results suggest that efficiency of use of feed resources could be improved by including these coefficients in an index of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- IRTA-Unitat de Cunicultura, Torre Marimón s/n., 08140 Caldes de Montbuí, Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
The objective of the study was to analyze the reproductive longevity of 2 selected lines of rabbits. The first one was the Prat line, a line selected in Spain on litter size at weaning, and raised in overlapping generations. The second one was a French line, the A1077 line, selected on litter size at birth and individual weight at 63 d of age, managed in batches, and artificially inseminated with discrete generations. Reproductive longevity was measured beginning at the first successful mating, assessed by a pregnancy diagnosis in the Prat line, and at the first kindling in the A1077 line. In the A1077 line, culling for infertility occurred after 3 unsuccessful artificial inseminations. The trait analyzed, defined as the doe length of productive life (LPL), was the time in days between date of the first positive pregnancy diagnosis and date of culling or death in the Prat line. In the A1077 line, the trait was the number of AI after the first kindling. Effects included in the model were year-season, litter size at birth, reproductive cycle or physiological status x cycle interaction, age at first mating, batch (only for the A1077 line), and additive genetic value of the animal as a random effect. Survival analyses were carried out with a Cox model for the Prat line and a discrete model for the A1077 line. The estimated heritability values for LPL were around 0.16 in the Prat and A1077 lines with a model including physiological status x cycle interaction effect. Removing this effect from the model led to an increase in estimated genetic variance with h2 = 0.24 and 0.19 in the Prat and A1077 lines, respectively. Including the traits LPL and number of AI from first fertile mating or AI in selection programs could increase reproductive longevity and decrease the replacement rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) Unitat de Cunicultura, 08140 Caldes de Montbuí, Barcelona, Spain.
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Piles M, García ML, Rafel O, Ramon J, Baselga M. Genetics of litter size in three maternal lines of rabbits: Repeatability versus multiple-trait models. J Anim Sci 2006; 84:2309-15. [PMID: 16908633 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2005-622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Variance components were estimated in 3 lines of rabbits selected for litter size at weaning (A, Prat, and V) to test one of the assumptions of the models used for selection: that litter size data at different parities are repeated measurements of the same trait. Multiple-trait analyses were performed for the total number of kits born (TB), the number of kits born alive (BA), and the number of kits weaned (NW) per litter. Estimates were obtained by REML in multivariate analyses, including all of the information of the selection criteria, under a repeatability model or a multiple-trait model, considering litter size at the first, second, and subsequent parities as different traits. Models included the fixed effects of the physiological status of the female and the year-season of mating day, buck and doe random permanent environmental effects, and doe additive genetic effects. Results indicated that prolificacy was determined mainly by doe components and that the service sire had a very small effect. Heritabilities for the first and second parities were greater than the estimates obtained under the repeatability model (0.04 to 0.14 for the repeatability model). In the A and V lines, similar values of heritability were found at the first and second parities, but in the Prat line heritability at the second parity was always greater than at the first and greater parities (values of 0.21, 0.17, and 0.15 for TB, BA, and NW, respectively, in second parities of the Prat line). Genetic correlations between the same traits at different parities were approximately 0.8 for all traits in line A, but much lower in the other 2 lines. On average, the values were 0.64 for TB, 0.48 for BA, and 0.39 for NW between the first and second parities, and 0.65 for TB, 0.56 for BA, and 0.45 for NW between the first and third and greater parities. Genetic correlations between the second and greater parities showed the greatest values (approximately 0.8) in lines A and Prat for all traits, but they were lower in line V (0.63 for BA and 0.37 for NW). The heterogeneity of heritabilities and genetic correlations between parities lower than 0.9 suggests that litter size at different parities could be considered as different traits when genetic evaluations are performed. However, when the accuracies of predicted breeding values under a multiple-trait and a repeatability model were calculated, assuming the first to be the true model, the values obtained were nearly the same for all traits in all lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, IRTA, Torre Marimón s/n., 08140 Caldes de Montbuí, Barcelona, Spain.
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Piles M, Sánchez JP, Orengo J, Rafel O, Ramon J, Baselga M. Crossbreeding parameter estimation for functional longevity in rabbits using survival analysis methodology. J Anim Sci 2005; 84:58-62. [PMID: 16361492 DOI: 10.2527/2006.84158x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A complete diallel cross involving 3 maternal lines of rabbit was performed to estimate cross-breeding parameters for functional longevity. This trait was defined as the ability to delay involuntary culling. The lines considered, A, V, and Prat, had all been selected by litter size at weaning for a long period. Data were related to a total of 653 does belonging to the 9 genetic types from the diallel cross; does were reared and bred on the same commercial farm. Survival analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazard model. The model incorporated time-dependent factors, such as year-season, litter size, and the interaction between cycle and physiological status of the female; time-independent factors, such as the genetic type of the doe; and sire and dam random factors. Crossbreeding parameters were estimated from the solutions obtained for the type of doe and its estimated variance-covariance matrix, using a generalized least squares procedure. The estimated parameters were the differences between lines in direct genetic effects and maternal genetic effects and individual heterosis. Relevant differences were observed in direct genetic effects between lines A and Prat but not in any maternal effects. Heterosis was found to be significant and favorable between lines A and Prat, and between the lines V and Prat. The magnitude of this effect was variable but important, especially in the first cross. Results stress the importance of using crosses between specialized lines to produce does for intensive meat rabbit production.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- Unitat de Cunicultura, IRTA, Torre Marimón s/n., 08140 Caldes de Montbuí, Barcelona, Spain.
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García-Tomás M, Sánchez J, Rafel O, Ramon J, Piles M. Variability, repeatability and phenotypic relationships of several characteristics of production and semen quality in rabbit. Anim Reprod Sci 2005; 93:88-100. [PMID: 16084038 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2005] [Revised: 06/05/2005] [Accepted: 06/23/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A total of 2140 ejaculates from 156 adult males pertaining to four groups of bucks were analysed and the following traits were recorded: pH, ejaculate volume (V), mass motility (Mm), individual motility (Mi), concentration (Cn), total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate (TSE), percentage of sperm viability (Vi), percentage of sperm with acrosome integrity (NAR), percentage of sperm normalcy (Nr), percentage of sperm morphological abnormalities of head (H), neck-midpiece (Nm) and tail (T) and presence of proximal and distal cytoplasmic droplet (Dp, Dd). Principal component (PC) analysis and phenotypic correlations were performed in order to examine the relationships between qualitative and quantitative traits of rabbit semen. The repeatability of the traits measured was also estimated. Phenotypic correlations between sperm traits were estimated as the residual correlation from an analysis of variance, including the effects of: genetic type of the male, order of the ejaculate, day of collection and the permanent non-additive random effect of the male to which the observation corresponds. The repeatability of these traits was analysed separately, in a set of univariate analyses, using VCE software. The previously defined mixed model was used for this analysis. The principal component analysis was performed using the Princomp procedure of the SAS v.8 package. The first four PC explained 62% of total variation: 23%, 18%, 12% and 8%, respectively. Percentage of sperm viability, NAR, Nr, T and Nm were the predominant variables in the first PC. Mass motility, Mi, pH, Cn and TSE were located in the second. Percentage of sperm with the presence of proximal and distal cytoplasmic droplet, NAR, Vi and Nr were the predominant traits in the third and V defined the fourth. Repeatability of semen quality traits was moderate for most of the traits. The highest values (about 0.45) corresponded to V, Cn, Nr and Dp and the lowest (about 0.10) to H and Nm. Repeatability of the first ejaculate was greater than that of the second for pH, Mm, Mi, H, Dp and Dd.
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Affiliation(s)
- M García-Tomás
- IRTA-Unitat de Cunicultura, Torre Marimón s/n., 08140 Caldes de Montbuí, Barcelona, Spain.
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Piles M, Rafel O, Ramon J, Varona L. Genetic parameters of fertility in two lines of rabbits with different reproductive potential. J Anim Sci 2005; 83:340-3. [DOI: 10.2527/2005.832340x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Piles M, Gomez EA, Rafel O, Ramon J, Blasco A. Elliptical selection experiment for the estimation of genetic parameters of the growth rate and feed conversion ratio in rabbits1. J Anim Sci 2004; 82:654-60. [PMID: 15032421 DOI: 10.2527/2004.823654x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Two elliptical selection experiments were performed in two contemporary sire lines of rabbits (C and R) in order to optimize the experimental design for estimating the genetic parameters of the growth rate (GR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Twelve males and 19 females from line C, and 13 males and 23 females from line R, were selected from an ellipse defined by a quadratic index based on these traits. Data from 160 rabbits of each of the parental generations of lines C and R and their offspring (275 and 266 animals, respectively) were used for the analysis. A Bayesian framework was adopted for inference. Marginal posterior distributions of the genetic parameters were obtained by Gibbs sampling. An animal model including batch, parity order, litter size, and common environmental litter effects was assumed. Posterior means (posterior standard deviations) for heritabilities of GR and FCR were estimated to be 0.31 (0.10) and 0.31 (0.10), respectively, in line C and 0.21 (0.08) and 0.25 (0.12) in line R. Posterior means of the proportion of the variance due to common litter environmental effects were 0.14 (0.06) and 0.21 (0.06) for GR and FCR, respectively, in line C and 0.17 (0.06) and 0.22 (0.06) in line R. Posterior means of genetic correlation between both traits were -0.49 (0.25) in line C and -0.47 (0.32) in line R, indicating that selection for GR was expected to result in a similar correlated response in FCR in both lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- IRTA-Unitat de Cunicultura, Torre Marimón s/n, Barcelona, Spain.
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Piles M, Gianola D, Varona L, Blasco A. Bayesian inference about parameters of a longitudinal trajectory when selection operates on a correlated trait1. J Anim Sci 2003; 81:2714-24. [PMID: 14601874 DOI: 10.2527/2003.81112714x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A hierarchical model for inferring the parameters of the joint distribution of a trait measured longitudinally and another assessed cross-sectionally, when selection has been applied to the cross-sectional trait, is presented. Distributions and methods for a Bayesian implementation via Markov Chain Monte Carlo procedures are discussed for the case where information about the selection criterion is available for all the individuals, but longitudinal records are available only in the later generations. Alternative specifications of the residual covariance structure are suggested. The procedure is illustrated with an analysis of correlated responses in growth curve parameters in a population of rabbits selected for increased growth rate. Results agree with those obtained in a previous study using both selected and control populations. The high correlation between samples indicates slow mixing, resulting in small effective sample sizes and high Monte Carlo standard errors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piles
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
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Mignon-Grasteau S, Piles M, Varona L, de Rochambeau H, Poivey JP, Blasco A, Beaumont C. Genetic analysis of growth curve parameters for male and female chickens resulting from selection on shape of growth curve. J Anim Sci 2000; 78:2515-24. [PMID: 11048915 DOI: 10.2527/2000.78102515x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this research were to evaluate gender differences and selection on body weight as they affect growth curves of chickens. Marginal posterior densities of growth curve parameters were studied by Gibbs sampling on 10,671 male and female chickens originating from five lines. Line X-+ was selected on low body weight at 8 wk (BW8) and high body weight at 36 wk (BW36), line X+- on high BW8 and low BW36, X++ on high BW8 and BW36, X-- on low BW8, and BW36, and X00 was an unselected control line. Growth was modeled by a Gompertz function. Heritabilities and genetic correlations among parameters of the Gompertz curve were estimated. Marginal posterior densities were drawn for parameters of the growth curve and for sexual dimorphism at ages ranging from hatching to 1 yr. Lines selected for a higher BW8 had higher initial specific growth rates (L), higher maturation rates (K), and lower ages at inflection (T(I)). Lines selected for a higher BW36 had higher asymptotic body weights (A). Estimates of A, L, and T(I) were higher in males and K was higher in females. Difference between sexes for A was greater in the line selected for a lower BW8 and a higher BW36. Dimorphism for L and K was the lowest in lines X++ and X--, respectively. The greatest difference in T(I) was observed in the line selected for lower BW8 and BW36. Sexual dimorphism of body weight was lower at most ages in the lightest line. Before 15 wk, sexual dimorphism in X++ line was lower than in the line selected for higher BW8 and lower BW36. The increase in sexual dimorphism with body weight could be reduced by selecting animals on body weight at two ages instead of one, as is usually done in commercial lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Piombo
- University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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