QTL Mapping in chicken using a three generation full sib family structure of an extreme broiler X broiler cross

Abstract

A three generation population has been created for mapping both production and health traits in chicken. The Fl and F2 population were genotyped while phenotypes were collected on the F3 animals. The population consisted of 10 full‐sib families with a total of 476 individuals (Fl and F2), and an F3 generation consisting of over 18,000 animals. In total, 264 microsatellites were analyzed on all Fl and F2 animals, and an additional 120 microsatellites were analyzed on only 4 of the 10 families (196 animals). A linkage map of the chicken genome containing 384 microsatellite markers has been constructed by analyzing the segregation of these markers in this population. Preliminary analysis indicate a QTL for body weight at 48 days on chromosome 1. Body weight was measured on 2100 F3 animals housed in cages, and the data was analyzed by a regression interval mapping approach. Higher F‐values were obtained by using a bivariate approach showing that differences in mean and variance of a trait measured on both sexes should be taken into account in the analysis.