Heritabilities and genetic correlations of laying performance in Muscovy ducks selected in Taiwan

Abstract

1. Genetic parameters in the base population of a closed experimental strain of Muscovy ducks, selected for body weight at 10 weeks of age, were estimated from data in 8 successive generations, for the following traits: age at first egg (AGE1EGG), total number of eggs laid at 40 and 52 weeks of age (NEGG40 and NEGG52), number of eggs laid during 15 and 22 weeks in the first laying cycle (NEGG15W and NEGG22W), and their Box-Cox transformed data. 2. The method of multi-trait restricted maximum likelihood with an animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters. Only the results obtained with non-transformed data are shown. 3. Heritability estimates for laying performance showed moderate values, increasing little with age: 0.20+/-0.03 (AGE1EGG), 0.23+/-0.03 (NEGG40), 0.27+/-0.03 (NEGG52), 0.20+/-0.03 (NEGG15W), and 0.22+/-0.03 (NEGG22W). 4. Genetic correlations between laying traits were high. Genetic correlation between AGE1EGG and egg number was negative, it was positive between total numbers of eggs at 40 and 52 weeks and egg numbers in the first laying cycle. 5. Body weight at 10 weeks of age exhibited positive genetic correlations (0.46+/-0.06) with age at first egg and negative with egg production traits (-0.28+/-0.06 to -0.41+/-0.06). 6. The cumulated predicted genetic gains, after 7 generations of selection, expressed per genetic standard deviation unit (sigma(g)) were 0.06 sigma(g), 0.07 sigma(g), 0.17 sigma(g), 0.23 sigma(g), and 0.25 sigma(g) for AGE1EGG, NEGG40, NEGG52, NEGG15W, and NEGG22W, respectively. 7. Selecting Muscovy ducks to improve laying in Taiwanese climatic conditions would be possible using the number of eggs laid up to 52 weeks of age as the selection criterion. Because unintended selection effects for laying traits were present, the selection experiment for body weight at 10 weeks of age was not antagonistic with laying traits.

Polymorphisms in the 5′-flanking regions of the GH, PRL, and Pit-1 genes with Muscovy duck egg production1

“…The high heritability of A1D for Muscovy ducks has been reported (Ricard et al, 1983), and the estimated genetic relationship between egg number in ducks at age 40 wk and E52W was high (0.93; Hu et al, 2004), which is consistent with our findings. Moreover, E52W was found to be inversely correlated with A1D (Hu et al, 2004), which was also consistent with our findings. These data indicate that selection for earlier A1D will improve laying performance with an increase in egg number as the predicted response.…”

Breeding and genetics of waterfowl

“…Using the method of multi-trait REML with an animal model, the heritability estimates for laying performance in Muscovy duck showed moderate values (from 0.20 to 0.27) (Hu et al, 2003). Body weight at 10 and 18 weeks of age seemed to be moderately genetically antagonistic with the laying traits (genetic correlations from -0.20 to -0.70).…”

Response of Egg Number to Selection of Different Genotypes of 24-bp Insertion-Deletion Locus in the Promoter of Prolactin Gene of Papua Local Chickens

“…This is a common phenomenon in poultry and has been widely reported by researchers. Hu et al (2004) stated a negative genetic correlation between the age at first laying of eggs and the number of eggs produced on selected Muscovy ducks in Taiwan. Francesch et al (1997) also reported a negative genetic correlation between egg number and egg weight in three Catalan breeds, namely Penedesenca Negra, Prat Leonada Empordanesa Roja.…”