Parent Stock Research Articles

Impact of Indole-3-butyric Acid Concentration and Formulation and Propagation Environment on Rooting Success of ‘I3’ Hemp by Stem Cuttings

As the industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) market grows, there is a need for methods to clonally propagate parental breeding stock and new cultivars. Information is lacking on vegetative cutting propagation of hemp. We evaluated how propagation environment (intermittent mist vs. subirrigation under a humidity dome), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) formulation (talc rooting powder vs. IBA in solution), and IBA concentration (0, 3000, or 8000 ppm) affected stem cuttings from ‘I3’, a cannabinoid-free cultivar of industrial hemp. Under mist or domes, rooting quality and percent declined at 8000 ppm IBA. Root and shoot quality and rooting percentage also were reduced in 3000 ppm IBA in solution treatment compared with talc. Our data show that for the cultivar tested, cuttings rooted at the highest percentage and produced the highest-quality roots and shoots with either no hormone or 3000 ppm talc powder. These treatments did equally well under humidity domes or intermittent mist.

PENGARUH MEDIA KULTUR PISANG LOKAL TERNATE TERHADAP FEKUNDITAS LALAT BUAH (DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MEIGEN 1979) STRAIN NORMAL

Drosophila melanogaster is one of the most common fruit fly species. This study aims to see the effect of culture media on the fecundity of these flies. The culture media used were pisang raja, pisang mulut bebek and pisang mas. The study was preceded by catching and identifying fruit flies, making culture media, making parent stock, isolating pupae to mating on each culture medium and counting the number of pupae. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. The results showed that there was a significant effect of Ternate local banana culture media, in this case plantain culture media, on the fecundity of fruit fly (D. melanogaster) with a significant value of 0.014 out of 0.05. Based on this research, it can be concluded that there is a significant effect of Ternate local banana culture media on fruit fly fecundity.

ESTIMATION OF GENETIC PARAMETERS AND VARIABILITY IN THE BIVOLTINE SILKWORM BOMBYX MORI L GERMPLASM

Genetic variability is a fundamental and an essential requirement of crop species for the development of superior breeds of high commercial value with strong genetic base. Evaluation and estimation of genetic potentials of silkworm breeds are of prime importance in order to identify promising silkworm genotypes for its commercial exploitation through breeding to enhance the silk productivity for sustainable use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability of vast silkworm germplasm and to estimate the genetic parameters of important productive traits. 368 bivoltine silkworm accessions from the germplasm are considered for assessment of genetic variability with five year data on important productive traits. Wide range of variability was observed based on Coefficient of Variation (%) values in the productive parameters viz., fecundity (11.316), weight of the larva (9.285), cocoon yield (7.892), single cocoon weight (8.272 ), shell weight and (12.289) shell ratio (7.082). Based on the multiple trait analysis by Mano index values, 20 top performing accessions were selected and genetic parameters such as heritability, genetic advance and phenotypic & genotypic coefficient of variances were estimated. Pooled ANOVA of 20 selected silkworm accessions indicates significant variations @1% level over the five generations in all the parameters. Higher heritability associated genetic advance was recorded in cocoon weight, shell ratio, shell weight and larval weight, besides, higher genotypic and phenotypic variances in cocoon weight. The results enumerate the importance of evaluation of silkworm germplasm and estimation of genetic parameters for selection of parental stocks for subsequent breeding programme in development of desired breeds.

Intermittent fasting induces chronic changes in the hepatic gene expression of Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus)

BackgroundIntermittent fasting (IF), the implementation of fasting periods of at least 12 consecutive hours on a daily to weekly basis, has received a lot of attention in recent years for imparting the life-prolonging and health-promoting effects of caloric restriction with no or only moderate actual restriction of caloric intake. IF is also widely practiced in the rearing of broiler breeders, the parent stock of meat-type chickens, who require strict feed restriction regimens to prevent the serious health problems associated with their intense appetites. Although intermittent fasting has been extensively used in this context to reduce feed competition and its resulting stress, the potential of IF in chickens as an alternative and complementary model to rodents has received less investigation. In both mammals and birds, the liver is a key component of the metabolic response to IF, responding to variations in energy balance. Here we use a microarray analysis to examine the liver transcriptomics of wild-type Red Jungle Fowl chickens fed either ad libitum, chronically restricted to around 70% of ad libitum daily or intermittently fasted (IF) on a 2:1 (2 days fed, 1 day fasted) schedule without actual caloric restriction. As red junglefowl are ancestral to domestic chicken breeds, these data serve as a baseline to which existing and future transcriptomic results from farmed birds such as broiler breeders can be compared.ResultsWe find large effects of feeding regimen on liver transcriptomics, with most of the affected genes relating to energy metabolism. A cluster analysis shows that IF is associated with large and reciprocal changes in genes related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, but also chronic changes in genes related to amino acid metabolism (generally down-regulated) and cell cycle progression (generally up-regulated). The overall transcription pattern appears to be one of promoting high proliferative plasticity in response to fluctuations in available energy substrates. A small number of inflammation-related genes also show chronically changed expression profiles, as does one circadian rhythm gene.ConclusionsThe increase in proliferative potential suggested by the gene expression changes reported here indicates that birds and mammals respond similarly to intermittent fasting practices. Our findings therefore suggest that the health benefits of periodic caloric restriction are ubiquitous and not restricted to mammals alone. Whether a common fundamental mechanism, for example involving leptin, underpins these benefits remains to be elucidated.

Influence of feed additives on the quality of seed of cocks of ROSS-308 parent stock

Purpose: to establish the effect of water-soluble liquid feed additives on the quality of the semen of roosters of the parent flock ROSS-308.Materials and methods. The experiments were carried out in the period of 2020–2022 in the hospital of the veterinary clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Food and Biotechnology of the Saratov State Agrarian University. In the experiment, roosters of the parent flock ROSS 308 were used. To assess the quality indicators of the spermogram of the obtained ejaculates and determine the indicator of sperm activity, the selected roosters were divided into three groups: group 1 (n=5) - control; The 2nd group (n=5) of the experimental group received the Reasil Humic Vet feed additive with water, the 3rd group (n=5) of the experimental group received a product containing colloidal selenium, silymarin and a stabilizer (NKS) as nanoparticles.Results. A fairly good volume of ejaculate was obtained from the experimental males, which ranged from 0.5 ml to 1.1 ml. The growth of sperm activity in the 2nd group and in the 3rd experimental group occurred on the 20th day and the next day of the experiment and showed a stable result from 8,5 to 9,5 points. As a result of the experience of studying the quality indicators of sperm in the 2nd and 3rd experimental groups of roosters, high Cv variability values from 32,0% to 54,0% were obtained. Established for the indicator of the concentration of active sperm in the ejaculate: in relation to the fertilization of eggs r = 0,67 ... 0,86, hatchability of eggs - r = 0,52 ... 0,70, hatching of chickens - r = 0,36 ... 0,51.Conclusion. Given the high positive relationship between the concentration of active sperm in the ejaculate of roosters and the incubation qualities of eggs, it is advisable to use this indicator in breeding programs.

Registration of G11‐7013 soybean germplasm with high meal protein and resistance to soybean cyst nematode, southern root‐knot nematode, and stem canker

AbstractG11‐7013 (Reg. no. GP‐447, PI 699240) is a conventional maturity group (MG) VII soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] line. It contains a 50% genetic background of an accession from South Africa by pedigree, with resistance to soybean cyst nematode race 3 (Heterodera glycines), southern root‐knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), and stem canker (Diaporthe aspalathi) and high meal protein. G11‐7013 was developed and released by the University of Georgia (UGA) Agricultural Experiment Stations in 2020. G11‐7013 is an F5–derived plant selection from ‘Boggs’ × PI 221717. G11‐7013 consistently yielded more than the elite parent Boggs in UGA advanced yield trials. Across 25 environments in the United Soybean Board Southern Protein Diversity Yield Trials MG‐VII, G11‐7013 yielded a range of 93–104% of the elite check cultivar mean over 5 yr, with an average of 98% of check means. G11‐7013 has a protein content of 436 g kg–1, a meal protein value of 51%, and an oil content of 217 g kg–1. G11‐7013 exceeds the desired meal protein levels required for soybean and derives from a diverse genetic background. Because of its high yield, high protein content, disease resistance package, and diverse pedigree, G11‐7013 can be used as a parental stock in both public and private sectors to develop high‐yielding, high‐meal‐protein soybean cultivars.

Transcriptome Responses to Defined Insecticide Selection Pressures in the German Cockroach (Blattella germanica L.)

Cockroaches are important global urban pests from aesthetic and health perspectives. Insecticides represent the most cost-effective way to control cockroaches and limit their impacts on human health. However, cockroaches readily develop insecticide resistance, which can quickly limit efficacy of even the newest and most effective insecticide products. The goal of this research was to understand whole-body physiological responses in German cockroaches, at the metatranscriptome level, to defined insecticide selection pressures. We used the insecticide indoxacarb as the selecting insecticide, which is an important bait active ingredient for cockroach control. Six generations of selection with indoxacarb bait produced a strain with substantial (>20×) resistance relative to inbred control lines originating from the same parental stock. Metatranscriptome sequencing revealed 1,123 significantly differentially expressed (DE) genes in ≥two of three statistical models (81 upregulated and 1,042 downregulated; FDR P < 0.001; log2FC of ±1). Upregulated DE genes represented many detoxification enzyme families including cytochrome-P450 oxidative enzymes, hydrolases and glutathione-S-transferases. Interestingly, the majority of downregulated DE genes were from microbial and viral origins, indicating that selection for resistance is also associated with elimination of commensal, pathogenic and/or parasitic microbes. These microbial impacts could result from: (i) direct effects of indoxacarb, (ii) indirect effects of antimicrobial preservatives included in the selecting bait matrix, or (iii) selection for general stress response mechanisms that confer both xenobiotic resistance and immunity. These results provide novel physiological insights into insecticide resistance evolution and mechanisms, as well as novel insights into parallel fitness benefits associated with selection for insecticide resistance.

Montmorillonite's impact on hematological profile, liver state of hens of the parent stock and hatchability of broiler chickens

Montmorillonite's impact on hematological profile, liver state of hens of the parent stock and hatchability of broiler chickens

Genetic variability in 5' untranslated region of BMPR1B gene from prolific Avishaan strain of sheep

Untranslated regions (UTRs) of the mRNAs have significant contribution towards gene regulation and expression. FecB gene is a member of transforming growth factor-p superfamily. A mutation in exon 8 of gene gives the FecB phenotype in sheep. In the present study 5′UTR region (992 bp encompassing 5′UTR and upstream sequences) and exon 8 region (712 bp encompassing exon 8 and partial sequences of upstream and downstream introns) of FecB gene were sequenced and characterized in prolific Avishaan sheep and its parental stock i.e. Garole, Malpura and Patanwadi. Sequence analysis of 992 bp fragment revealed 14 SNPs and one non-synonymous mutation (rs402422707) was observed in exon 1. Promoter was located in nucleotide 40 to 90 in amplified 5′ UTR sequence. Transcription factor binding site prediction identified 65 segments in the amplified 5′UTR and 5′ upstream sequence as potential binding sites for different transcription factors (TFs). In all 37 TFs binding sites were located on these sequences and majority of these sites were identified for SP-1 (12 segments), c/EBPalp (9 segments), NF-1 (4 segments), 2 segments each of RAP-1, HNF-1, c-Ets-1, TEC1, and Pit1a. These potential binding sites for TFs would be helpful in identifying site of interaction to control gene expression in Avishaan sheep.

Effects of riboflavin supplementation level on health, performance, and fertility of organic broiler parent stock and their chicks

Data from breeder hens and chicks are particularly critical for the development of vitamin B2 recommendations for organic poultry. To test safe thresholds of supplementation, 100 breeder hens (Hubbard JA 57 K) and ten cockerels were allocated to ten housing groups, with each receiving supplementation of either 4.0 (treatment CON) or 2.5 mg (treatment RED) riboflavin per kg feed. After 15 weeks of experimental feeding, 256 eggs were incubated. From the hatched chicks (Hubbard S757), 192 were allocated to four treatments based on their parents’ treatment (CON- or RED-) and on their own supplementation of either 4.0 (-CON) or 2.5 mg (-RED) riboflavin per kg feed. Two groups of each combination (CON-CON, CON-RED, RED-CON, RED-RED), each with 24 chicks of both sexes, were fattened for nine weeks and slaughtered. Analysis of total riboflavin (sum of native concentrations and supplements) in the parent’s feeds revealed an average, over the 15 weeks, of 7.8 and 5.8 mg per kg feed for CON and RED, respectively. Body weight, plumage integrity, gait appearance, footpad, claw and keel bone integrity, lesion scores, laying performance, and egg mass were found to be of similarly high levels for all hens without any treatment effects. Performance traits of the hens in both treatments reached the specifications of the producer for this genotype. Yolk and albumen riboflavin concentrations were not affected although yolk colour in the RED treatment group became darker. Fertility was not affected, and hatchability was 100 per cent. Total riboflavin concentrations in the broiler diets were on average, over 9 weeks, 8.2 and 6.1 mg/kg for CON and RED, respectively. In chicks, RED treatment of their parents led to significant depressions of feed intake and growth. The RED treatment of the chicks themselves also impaired growth. Growth rates of the CON-CON treatment were in line with the specifications of the producer for this genotype. Plumage scores, footpad integrity and walking appearance of the broilers, and dressing percentage of the carcasses were not affected by treatment. The RED treatment of chicks caused lower spleen and heart weights, while pancreas and liver weights, and liver riboflavin concentrations were not affected. In conclusion, supplementation of 4.0 mg/kg to organic diets did not evoke any health or performance problems for breeder hens or broiler chicks, while a supplementation level of 2.5 mg per kg feed led to reduced weight gains, although without any other riboflavin deficiency symptoms.

The Assessment of Hatch Window, Hatchability and Quality of Broiler Chicks Obtained from Different Breeder Strains in a Commercial Hatchery

The objective of this study was to assess the hatch window, hatchability and quality of broilers` chick obtained from different breeder strains in a commercial hatchery. A total of 57 600 hatching eggs (28 800 hatching eggs per strain) were collected from commercial flocks of Cobb 500 and Ross 308 broiler breeder parent stocks at 60-61 weeks of age. Each strain was randomly coded as A strain and B strain. The mean value of eggshell temperature was found to be higher in eggs obtained from Strain A (101.05 ⁰F) than the other eggs of Strain B (100.98 ⁰F, P

Angas-Sura etymologies XII

The paper as part of a long-running series is devoted to the etymological analysis of a new segment (namely that with initial dental *d-) of the Angas-Sura root stock, a small group of modern languages remotely and ultimately akin to pharaonic Egyptian and the well-known Semitic languages or Twareg in the Sahara etc. Doing so, I wish to continue the noble tradition initiated by J.H. Greenberg (1958), the founding father of modern Afro-Asiatic comparative linguistics (along with I.M. Diakonoff), who was the first scholar ever to have established by Neo-Grammarian the methods regular consonantal correspondences between Angas-Sura (AS) and ancient Egyptian in his pioneering (painfully isolated) paper on the ancient trichotomy of the word-initial labials in both branches. Nowadays our chances in following this path are substantially more favourable being equipped with our gigantic comparative root catalgue system of the Egyptian etymologies ever published (ongoing since 1994) and of the Afro-Asiatic parental lexical stock (ongoing since 1999).

토종닭 종계 9개 조합의 체중 및 산란능력 비교 연구

The present study investigated production traits, including body weight, egg production, egg weight, and egg quality in Korean indigenous parent stocks. Parent stocks produced from a nine-combination association from five pure line strains (C, D, F, K, and Y) were used. The body weight analyses results showed that the CY combination had the highest body weight (1,604.9 g) and the DK combination had the lowest (1,424.4 g). The average age at first egg of the nine combinations was 118.6 days; however, that of the YD combination was 111.6 days, making it the fastest growing combination, whereas the DK combination was the slowest, at 126 days. Hen-day egg production was 74% or more for the CF, CK, and DK combinations. The DK combination hens showed excellent persistence in egg laying. Hen-housed egg production exhibited results similar to those of hen-day egg production. Egg weight was significantly higher in the DK combination than in the other combinations and was observed to increase from 20 (43.9 g) to 40 (58.1 g) weeks. The egg quality analyses results showed that the combinations based on the F and K strains had a bright eggshell color, with relatively high egg weights. Eggshell strength and thickness were the highest in the DK combination (3.8 kg/cm², 0.38 mm). In summary, the CF and DK combinations showed excellent egg production ability and egg quality, while the YC, YD, and YK combinations with the Y strain as the paternal strain exhibited poor performance.

Analysis of culling reasons during the breeding cycle and lifetime performance: The strategy to remove crossbred Landrace and Large White sows under tropical climate.

Background and Aim:Sow culling is an important practice in commercial swine production because it is directly associated with the economic efficiency of the breeding herd. This study was conducted to analyze the reasons for sow culling and quantify the factors affecting culling in crossbred Landrace and Large White sows under tropical climate.Materials and Methods:A total of 4887 culled sows from one parent stock farm located in Ratchaburi province, Western Thailand, were examined in this study. Culling reasons were grouped into the following eight categories according to farm management: (1) Reproductive disorders, (2) old age, (3) low performance, (4) diseases, (5) lameness, (6) udder problems, (7) body condition, and (8) other illnesses. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between culling sows and environmental factors. Effects of parity and season of culling were considered as fixed effects in a statistical model.Results:Descriptive statistics indicated the following factors accounting for sow removals: Old age (34.93%, n=1707), reproductive disorders (29.32%, n=1433), low performance (12.62%, n=617), lameness (12.56%, n=614), diseases (4.8%, n=235), body condition (4.68%, n=229), udder problems (0.79%, n=39), and other illnesses (0.26%, n=13). Parity and season of culling were also found to have a significant effect on sow culling (p<0.05). The majority of culling sows in this population were of old age and high parity.Conclusion:This study indicated that the purposeful culling of sows on this farm was within the targeted range. However, the incidence of reproductive disorders was too high and required further investigations.

Genetic diversity and species identity of the critically endangered Rote Island snake-necked turtle, Chelodina mccordi Rhodin, 1994

The endemic Chelodina mccordi is considered extinct in the wild; however, ex-situ populations are thriving and sampled for our genetic diversity assessment. We used three sequences resulting from blood and tissue samples of five individual turtles amplified for 650-bp cytochrome oxidase I (COI) fragment of the mitochondrial DNA. We analysed a total of 30 barcoding DNA sequences for phylogenetic relationships and genetic distances among Chelodina spp. Nucleotide diversity of eight C. mccordi samples is 0.007 ± 0.001 with a haplotype diversity of 0.893 ± 0.086. All these samples form a monophyletic clade that is sister to a clade of Australian and New Guinean long-necked turtles. Genetic distances calculated using Kimura 2-paramater model among C. mccordi sequences range between 0.2% and 1.5%, while a few others are without distance. The shortest genetic distance is between individuals from Rote Island, whereas the longest distance was found between individuals, each of which was derived from parental stocks originating in Rote and Timor islands. A genetic distance of 1.1% - 1.5% is likely to denote distinction at subspecies level. Results of this study could help in reintroducing captive individuals into their natural habitats. Thus, captive breeding programme of this species may help its conservation.

Effects of incubator oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations on hatchability of fertile eggs, some blood parameters, and histopathological changes of broilers with different parental stock ages in high altitude

The effects of incubator carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) concentrations with parental stock age (PSA) on embryonic deaths (ED), hatchability of fertile eggs (HFE), some blood parameters, and the tissue development of broilers were investigated. Four consecutive repetitions following the similar materials and methods were carried. From 3 different aged ROSS 308 broiler parental flocks 7,680 hatching eggs were obtained and classified as young (Y; 29 wk), middle (M; 37 wk) and old (O; 55 wk) as regards PSA, and randomly distributed. Four different incubator ventilation programs (IVP) as control (C; 0.67% CO2 and 20.33% O2), high CO2 (HC; 1.57% CO2 and 20.26% O2), high O2 (HO; 0.50% CO2 and 21.16% O2), and high CO2 + O2 (HCO; 1.17% CO2 21.03% O2) were applied with oxygen concentrator, and ED and HFE were investigated. Lung and heart tissues, hemoglobin value, packed cell volume, and red blood cell count, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) values of the chicks were analyzed. It was found that IVP affected ED and HFE. Higher rate of early ED (EED) was obtained from the HC than HCO, and higher middle+late stage+pipped but unhatched ED (MLPED) with a lower rate of HFE was observed in the C group than HO and HCO (P < 0.05). Association was found between PSA and IVP (P < 0.05), being more evident in EED for young PSA, in MLPED with HFE for Y and O PSA. From hematological values, no statistical difference in RBC, PCV, and Hb values were found among the treatment groups, ACTH concentration known as a response to stress was found to be higher than C in all groups, triiodothyronine concentration was higher in the HO group than C. In the histopathological examination, used IVPs were found to have negative effects on the lung and heart such as vacuolization, hemorrhage in all PSA groups except for C. Conclusively, PSA and IVP affected some hatching, blood and tissue development parameters of the broiler chicks.

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance and molecular characterization of Escherichia coli isolates from layer breeder farms in Korea

In Korea, 4 big layer companies that possess one grandparent and 3 parent stocks are in charge of 100% of the layer chicken industry. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial resistance of commensal 578 E. coli isolated from 20 flocks of 4-layer breeder farms (A, B, C, and D), moreover, compared the characteristics of their resistance and virulence genes. Isolates from farms B and D showed significantly higher resistance to the β-lactam antimicrobials (amoxicillin, ampicillin, and 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-generation cephalosporins). However, resistance to ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline was significantly higher in the isolates from farm A (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the isolates from farm C showed significantly lower resistance to most antimicrobials tested in this study. The isolates from farms B, C, and D showed the high multiple resistance to the 3 antimicrobial classes. Furthermore, the isolates from farm A showed the highest multiple resistance against the 5 classes. Among the 412 β-lactam-resistant isolates, 123 (29.9%) carried blaTEM-1, but the distribution was significantly different among the farms from 17.5% to 51.4% (P < 0.05). Similarly, the most prevalent tetracycline resistance gene in the isolates from farms B, C, and D was tetA (50.0–77.0%); however, the isolates from farm A showed the highest prevalence in tetB (70.6%). The distribution of quinolone (qnrB, qnrD, and qnrS) and sulfonamide (su12)-resistant genes were also significantly different among the farms but that of chloramphenicol (catA1)- and aminoglycoside (aac [3]-II, and aac [6′]-Ib)-resistant genes possessed no significant difference among the farms. Moreover, the isolates from farm C showed significantly higher prevalence in virulence genes (iroN, ompT, hlyF, and iss) than the other 3 farms (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of E. coli isolates were significantly different among the farms, and improved management protocols are required to control of horizontal and vertical transmission of avian disease, including the dissemination of resistant bacteria in breeder flocks.

Breeding Strategy of Local Muscovy to Support the Development of Meat Type Duck Industry

&lt;p&gt;Muscovy duck is one of the genetic resources of waterfowl that spreads almost all over Indonesia. Muscovy duck is classified as meat-producer waterfowl, because of its relatively large body weight and better meat quality compared to other waterfowl. Therefore, cross breeding between Muscovy and ducks were often conducted by farmers to produce offspring with large body weight in order to anticipate the higher demand for duck meat. If this crossing pattern has been widely adopted by breeders, it will require a larger number of Muscovy duck. Whereas, currently the population of Muscovy is relatively low and no breeding system exists both at the community farm level or industrial level. Therefore, a development program of local Muscovy duck, especially its breeding program needs to be done immediately. As an information material to facilitate the preparation of the program, this paper describes factors that affect the breeding program including production performance and reproduction, as well as the breeding strategy of Muscovy duck as candidates of male line to form special type of meat type ducks through 3 groups of livestock breeds in the shape of a conical triangle at the top. The top position was the pure stock (nucleus), the middle was the parent stock (multiplier) and the bottom was the commercial stock. The genetic quality of livestock flows from the top position to the bottom and cannot be the other way around, because the breeding system is closed in the pure stock (nucleus).&lt;/p&gt;

54 Genetics Reloaded: Large-scale Collection of Novel Phenotypes in Turkey

Abstract Effective application of genomic selection methodologies require genomic information, population-based pedigree data, and high-quality phenotypes. The implementation of such selection programs can increase the accuracy of breeding values, therefore improving the ability to estimate the genetic merit of livestock. In particular, traits with low heritability are amenable to genomic selection. The objective of this presentation is to outline improvement of traits such as livability, disease resistance, fertility, and other health and welfare traits in turkeys, which could considerably advance breeding programs. The aim of this study was to apply different methodologies (ssGBLUP, random regression approaches, etc.) to novel and conventional traits collected in commercial turkey lines (15,000 turkeys genotyped at 65K). This reference population was used to assess the increase in accuracy of selection using genomic information, which ranged from 0 to +0.3, depending on the trait. A further goal of the study was to monitor inbreeding within the different lines. A large number of high-quality phenotypes related to fertility, growth, production, and carcass composition were collected, as well as additional health and behaviour phenotypes related to livability. These traits are being developed for use in performance testing. Furthermore, meat quality (e.g. white striation, water holding capacity, pH, sheer force and colour, etc.) and total carcass composition phenotypes were analysed. With improved methodology, more detailed phenotypic information, and comprehensive data collection and integration, we present more accurate selection of parent stock for application in applied poultry breeding programs.

Genetic Diversity and Variation in Mitochondrial COI Gene in Wild and Hatchery Populations of Saxidomus purpuratus.

To investigate the genetic diversity and genetic variations of four wild (Geoje, Jinhae, Yeosu, and Boryeong) and two hatchery (Goheung and Geoje) populations of purplish Washington clam (Saxidomus purpuratus), 421bp sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were analyzed. A total of 149 haplotypes were identified from 358 individuals from the four wild and two hatchery populations with 109 substitutions. The genetic diversity of the wild populations and Geoje hatchery population were high, whereas the total number of haplotypes, population-specific haplotypes, and haplotype diversity were comparatively low in the Goheung hatchery population. The fixation index (FST) indicated that there was no significant genetic difference between the four wild populations. However, the Goheung hatchery population was significantly different from that of the Geoje hatchery, exhibiting the most pronounced difference, and two wild populations (Jinhae and Yeosu). The low genetic diversity indices exhibited by the Goheung hatchery population might have resulted from farm propagation using a limited parental stock. Therefore, to maintain genetic diversity, a proper breeding management program using more progenitors is required in hatcheries, in addition to regular monitoring of both hatchery and wild populations.