Effect of Polymorphism of the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Gene on some Productive Traits of Iraqi Local White Chickens

Abstract

This study targeted to study the multiple manifestations of the NPY gene and to study the possible effect of this gene on the growth and productive traits of the local white Iraqi chicken birds. The results of the study showed that the genotype DD had a significantly excelled at the level (P > 0.01) over the genotype II in the average weight of the first egg (gm).and the characteristic of body weight at maturity (gm), Weight of the first egg for genotype DD was 33.95 ± 0.62 gm and 30.73 ± 0.66 gm for genotype II, While the average body weight at sexual maturity was 1420.60 ± 24.36gm and 1243.15 ± 17.83gm for genotypes DD and II, respectively. The average age at sexual maturity in days, a distinction is noted for the genotype II in the traits of early age at sexual maturity, reaching 131.5 ± 0.99 days for the genotype II and 151.19 ± 1.23 days for the genotype DD. The genotype II had a significant superiority at the level (P < 0.01) on the genotype DD in the characteristic of egg production for a period of 100 days, where the rate of eggs produced for the genotype II was 60.06 ± 1.812 eggs, while it was 44.53 ± 2.032 eggs for the genotype DD.