Estimation of the genetic parameters of traits relevant to feed efficiency: result from broiler lines divergent for high or low abdominal fat content

Chong Chen; Zhiyong Su; Yumao Li; Peng Luan; Shouzhi Wang; Hui Zhang; Fan Xiao; Huaishun Guo; Zhiping Cao; Hui Li; Li Leng

Poultry Science (Feb 2021)

Estimation of the genetic parameters of traits relevant to feed efficiency: result from broiler lines divergent for high or low abdominal fat content

Chong Chen,
Zhiyong Su,
Yumao Li,
Peng Luan,
Shouzhi Wang,
Hui Zhang,
Fan Xiao,
Huaishun Guo,
Zhiping Cao,
Hui Li,
Li Leng

Affiliations

Chong Chen: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Zhiyong Su: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Yumao Li: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Peng Luan: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Shouzhi Wang: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Hui Zhang: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Fan Xiao: Fujian Sunzer Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd., Guangze 354100, Fujian Province, P. R. China
Huaishun Guo: Fujian Sunzer Biotechnology Development Co., Ltd., Guangze 354100, Fujian Province, P. R. China
Zhiping Cao: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Hui Li: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
Li Leng: Key Laboratory of Chicken Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Education Department of Heilongjiang Province, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China; Corresponding author:

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 100, no. 2
pp. 461 – 466

Abstract

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Feed consumption represents a major cost in poultry production and improving feed efficiency is one of the important goals in breeding strategies. The present study aimed to analyze the relationship between feed efficiency and relevant traits and find the proper selection method for improving feed efficiency by using the Northeast Agricultural University High and Low Fat broiler lines that were divergently selected for abdominal fat content. A total of 899 birds were used to measure the feed intake (FI), abdominal fat weight (AFW), and body weight traits. The abdominal fat percentage (AFP), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and the residual feed intake (RFI) were calculated for each individual broiler. The differences in the AFW, AFP, and in traits relevant to feed efficiency, such as FCR and RFI, between the fat line and the lean line were analyzed, and the genetic parameters were estimated for AFW, AFP, and feed efficiency relevant traits. The results showed that AFW, AFP, body weight gain (BWG), FI, FCR, and RFI were significantly higher in the fat line compared with the lean line. The heritability of FI, BWG, FCR, RFI, AFW, and AFP were 0.45, 0.28, 0.36, 0.38, 0.33, and 0.30, respectively. Both FCR and RFI showed high positive genetic correlations with FI, AFW, and AFP and relatively low, negative genetic correlations with BWG. The RFI showed much higher positive genetic correlation with the abdominal fat traits than FCR. In addition, the FCR showed negative genetic correlation with body weight of 4 wk (BW4) and 7 wk (BW7), whereas RFI showed positive genetic correlation with BW4 and BW7. The results showed that both RFI and FCR could be used for improving feed efficiency. When selecting against RFI, the AFP could be significantly reduced, and by selecting against FCR, the body weight could be improved simultaneously.

Published in Poultry Science

ISSN: 0032-5791 (Print); 1525-3171 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Animal culture
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/poultry-science

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