Abstract

Simple SummaryPoultry can be classified as broilers for meat production and layers for egg production. Modern poultry farming improved economically important traits of broilers and layers by breeding and genetic selection. Myostatin (MSTN) has gained attention as a potential selection marker for higher meat production in the poultry industry, because MSTN mutant chickens and quail showed increased muscle mass. In this study, the effect of MSTN mutation on egg production was investigated to evaluate potential use of MSTN for higher egg production in the layer industry. MSTN homozygous mutant quail showed a significantly delayed onset of egg laying, a higher egg weight, and a lower number of eggs produced during the active laying period compared to wild-type quail. However, there were no significant differences in total egg production for 20 days, percentage proportion of egg white and yolk in egg weight, and egg fertility, and hatchability between MSTN mutant and WT quail. Although a clear benefit on egg production by MSTN mutation in quail was not revealed, this study provided useful information to understand the productive performance of MSTN mutant hens. Increased body weight and muscle mass, along with improved feed efficiency, by myostatin (MSTN) mutation in quail, supports the potential use of MSTN as a selection marker for higher meat yield in the poultry industry. Although economically important traits of broilers have been studied using recently generated MSTN mutant quail, the effect of MSTN mutation on egg production has not yet been investigated. In this study, several economically important traits of layers, including egg production, reproduction, and body composition of hens, were compared between MSTN homozygous mutant, heterozygous mutant, and wild-type (WT) quail. In terms of egg production, MSTN homozygous mutant quail, showing significantly delayed onset of egg laying, laid significantly heavier eggs, but a significantly lower number of eggs compared to WT quail for 20 days after 3 months of age, resulting in similar total egg production among groups. In addition, the percentage proportion of egg white and yolk in egg weight were similar among groups. Furthermore, similar fertility and hatchability of eggs from MSTN homozygous mutant breeding pairs and WT breeding pairs indicated normal reproductive function of MSTN mutant quail. These findings will provide scientific rationales for the consideration of MSTN as a potential selection marker for layers in the poultry industry.

Highlights

  • Since the discovery of the anti-myogenic function of myostatin (MSTN) in mammals, MSTN was considered as a potential selection marker for a higher meat yield in the livestock industry

  • Total number of eggs produced for 20 days during the active laying period were significantly lower in homozygous mutant quail compared to heterozygous mutant and WT quail (Figure 2B), resulted in similar total amount of eggs among groups (Figure 2C)

  • Total number of eggs produced for 20 days during the active laying period were significantly lower in MSTN homozygous mutant quail compared to WT quail (Figure 2B)

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Summary

Introduction

Since the discovery of the anti-myogenic function of myostatin (MSTN) in mammals, MSTN was considered as a potential selection marker for a higher meat yield in the livestock industry. In addition to increased body and muscle weight, improved feed efficiency in MSTN homozygous mutant quail was reported in our recent study [6]. Previous studies demonstrated positive effects of MSTN mutation on economically important traits of broilers, the effect of MSTN mutation on egg production traits of layers has not been reported. Feed is one of the main concerns in poultry farming because does feed comprise a major portion of the total production cost in the poultry industry, and body weight and fatness affect the onset of egg production [8]. Body weight has been known to affect egg size positively and fat accumulation is increased prior to egg laying [9,10]. Body and fat weight of MSTN homozygous mutant females were approximately

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