Crescimento de codornas de diferentes grupos genéticos por meio de modelos não lineares

Data from two quail strains, UFV1 and UFV 2, measured weekly from hatch to sixth week in a total of seven live body weight traits were used aiming to estimate genetic correlations and heritabilities. After females were evaluated they were monitored in their egg-laying phase, in which the total egg number, the average weight of the eggs and the average specific gravity of eggs were measured. Multi-trait analysis was performed with the ten traits measured for estimation of heritabilities, genetic and residual correlations. For body weight traits, heritabilities varying from 0.25 to 0.53 for UFV1 and from 0.27 to 0.53 for UFV2 were estimated; genetic correlations increased as the interval between records was reduced. For egg number, the heritability estimate was of low magnitude (0.05 and 0.04), whereas for average egg weight (0.41 and 0.39) and egg specific gravity (0.31 and 0.18), they were of moderate magnitude for UFV1 and UFV2, respectively. The genetic correlations between body weights and egg number were negative in UFV1 and positive in UFV2; for average egg weight, they were positive, and for specific gravity, they were negative for both strains. It can be concluded, then, that selection based on body weight in the growth phase of meat quail must be done preferably at early ages such as weight at the third or fourth week of life, once they are positively correlated with weight at slaughter age and have few effects on the production and quality of eggs.

BackgroundLeptin has a strong relation to important traits in animal production, such as carcass composition, feed intake, and reproduction. It is mainly produced by adipose cells and acts predominantly in the hypothalamus. In this study, circulating leptin and its gene expression in muscle were evaluated in two groups of young Nellore bulls with divergent feed efficiency. Individual dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) of 98 Nellore bulls were evaluated in feedlot for 70 d to determinate the residual feed intake (RFI) and select 20 animals for the high feed efficient (LRFI) and 20 for the low feed efficient (HRFI) groups. Blood samples were collected on d 56 and at slaughter (80 d) to determine circulating plasma leptin. Samples of Longissimus dorsi were taken at slaughter for leptin gene expression levels.ResultsDMI and RFI were different between groups and LRFI animals showed less back fat and rump fat thickness, as well as less pelvic and kidney fat weight. Circulating leptin increased over time in all animals. Plasma leptin was greater in LRFI on 56 d and at slaughter (P = 0.0049). Gene expression of leptin were greater in LRFI animals (P = 0.0022) in accordance with the plasma levels. The animals of the LRFI group were leaner, ate less, and had more circulating leptin and its gene expression.ConclusionThese findings demonstrated that leptin plays its physiological role in young Nellore bulls, probably controlling food intake because feed efficient animals have more leptin and lower residual feed intake.

RESUMO -Objetivou-se com este trabalho comparar diferentes modelos de regressão aleatória, ajustados por meio de funções polinomiais de Legendre de diferentes ordens, para avaliar o que melhor se ajusta ao estudo genético da curva de crescimento de codornas de corte. Os dados utilizados são provenientes de 26.835 e 27.447 observações, de 3.909 e 4.040 codornas de corte das linhagens UFV-1 e UFV-2. O peso corporal nas duas linhagens foi avaliado aos 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias de idade. Ordens de ajuste das funções contínuas foram gradualmente aumentadas (ordens variando de 3 a 6) para determinação da ordem mínima necessária para descrever as estruturas de covariância em função do tempo nos modelos de regressão aleatória. A função polinomial de Legendre com as ordens 6 para efeito genético aditivo direto e 5 para efeito permanente de animal, para a linhagem UFV-1, e 6 para ambos efeitos aleatórios, para a linhagem UFV-2, deve ser utilizada na avaliação genética da curva de crescimento de codornas de corte em estudo. As herdabilidades estimadas indicam que ganhos genéticos podem ser obtidos como resposta à seleção para peso corporal nas duas linhagens.Palavras-chave: componente de variância, herdabilidade, polinômio de Legendre Random regression models for description of growth curve of meat quailsABSTRACT -The objective of this paper was to compare different random regression models adjusted through Legendre polynomial functions of different orders to evaluate the one best adjusted to the genetic study of the meat quail growth curve. The data used in this study were from 26,835 and 27,447 observations from 3,909 and 4,040 meat quails of the UFV-1 and UFV-2 strain, respectively. The body weight of the two strain was evaluated on 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of age. The orders of adjustment of the continuous functions were gradually increased (orders varying from 3 to 6), to determine the least necessary order to describe structure of covariance in function of time in the random regression models.Legendre polynomial functions of the 6 th order for direct additive genetic effect and 5 th order for permanent effect, for strain UFV-1 and 6 for both random effects for strain UFV-2 should be used in the genetic evaluation of the quail meat growth curve in study. The estimated heritability indicates which genetic traits can be obtained as a response to the physical body weight selection in two strain.

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The objective was to estimate (co)variance functions using random regression models (RRM) with Legendre polynomials, B-spline function and multi-trait models aimed at evaluating genetic parameters of growth traits in meat-type quail. A database containing the complete pedigree information of 7000 meat-type quail was utilized. The models included the fixed effects of contemporary group and generation. Direct additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, considered as random, were modeled using B-spline functions considering quadratic and cubic polynomials for each individual segment, and Legendre polynomials for age. Residual variances were grouped in four age classes. Direct additive genetic and permanent environmental effects were modeled using 2 to 4 segments and were modeled by Legendre polynomial with orders of fit ranging from 2 to 4. The model with quadratic B-spline adjustment, using four segments for direct additive genetic and permanent environmental effects, was the most appropriate and parsimonious to describe the covariance structure of the data. The RRM using Legendre polynomials presented an underestimation of the residual variance. Lesser heritability estimates were observed for multi-trait models in comparison with RRM for the evaluated ages. In general, the genetic correlations between measures of BW from hatching to 35 days of age decreased as the range between the evaluated ages increased. Genetic trend for BW was positive and significant along the selection generations. The genetic response to selection for BW in the evaluated ages presented greater values for RRM compared with multi-trait models. In summary, RRM using B-spline functions with four residual variance classes and segments were the best fit for genetic evaluation of growth traits in meat-type quail. In conclusion, RRM should be considered in genetic evaluation of breeding programs.

The objective of this study was to obtain estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for egg mass of meat quails and also to propose an optimal age for selection of birds through the egg mass. The data used in this study came from 3,503 female meat quails (UFV1: 1.811 quails; UFV2: 1.692 quails) of the Poultry Breeding Program from Universidade Federal de Viçosa. The traits examined were egg mass in partial periods until 77, 112, 147 and 182 days, and egg mass in the total period of 407 days by the use of single and bi-trait animal models. For the genetic group UFV1, the heritability values for the periods were high: 0.58, 0.59, 0.57, 0.59 and 0.24 (until 77, 112, 147,182 and 407 days, respectively). The values of genetic correlations were medium, ranging from 0.51 (77 and 407 days) to 0.61 (112 and 407, 147 and 407 days). For the genetic group UFV2, the estimates of heritability were of low magnitude: 0.05, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.11 (until 77, 112, 147, 182, and 407 days, respectively). The values for genetic correlation ranged from 0.61 (112 and 407 days) to 0.93 (77 and 407 days). For the genetic group UFV1, the second partial period (112 days) for selection of meat quails using the egg mass trait is recommended, due to a higher value of heritability and a higher value of genetic correlation with the total and relative efficiency close to the unity in this period. In the genetic group UFV2, the first partial period (77 days) is indicated, since it had a higher estimation of genetic correlation and a higher relative efficiency. The choice of these partial periods reduces the generation interval, increasing the intensity of selection and an increase in genetic gain per unit of time

RESUMO O farelo de crambe é um resíduo que tem sido estudado como fonte proteica alternativa ao farelo de soja. O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a inclusão do farelo de crambe na alimentação de codornas de corte. Foram utilizadas 390 codornas, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos, seis repetições de 13 aves por parcela. As fases experimentais foram: inicial (8 a 21 dias), crescimento (22 a 35 dias) e total (8 a 35 dias). Os tratamentos consistiram de uma ração testemunha sem o farelo de crambe e os demais pela inclusão da proteína do farelo de crambe em substituição a do farelo de soja nos níveis de 0, 3, 6, 9 e 12%. Avaliou-se o consumo de ração, o ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar. O rendimento de carcaça, cortes e análise de rentabilidade econômica foram avaliados aos 35 dias de idade. Não houve diferença significativa sobre o desempenho das codornas alimentadas com rações em que houve inclusão do farelo de crambe para todas as fases avaliadas. Da mesma forma, em relação às características de carcaça não se observou efeito da inclusão do farelo de crambe nas rações. Portanto, recomenda-se a inclusão do farelo de crambe nas rações de codornas em até 12% do nível de proteína, por não influenciar negativamente no desempenho das aves. Para o estudo da análise de rentabilidade econômica, o tratamento que apresentou o melhor índice foi o de 6% de inclusão da proteína do farelo de crambe.