Prediction of genetic gains in body weight, egg production and shell quality traits in the Brown Tsaiya laying duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

• Published in: Genetics selection evolution (Paris) Vol. 28; no. 5; pp. 443 - 455
• Main Authors: CHENG, Y. S, POIVEY, J. P, ROUVIER, R, TAI, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: Les Ulis EDP Sciences 15.12.1996; BioMed Central Ltd; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Anas platyrhynchos; Animal genetics; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body weight; Classical genetics, quantitative genetics, hybrids; Ducks; Egg industry; Eggs; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Life Sciences; Vertebrata; Genetic gain; Body weight; Artificial selection; Genetic parameter; Vertebrata; Egg laying; Quality; Genetic improvement; Duck; Anas platyrhynchos; Breeding value; Aves; Selection response
• ISSN: 0999-193X; 1297-9686; 1297-9686
• DOI: 10.1186/1297-9686-28-5-443

An evaluation was made of the expected genetic gain and predicted genetic responses for egg weight and body weight at 40 weeks of age (EW40, BW40), number of eggs laid up to 52 weeks of age (NEGG52), eggshell strength at 30 or 40 weeks of age (ES30 or ES40) in Brown Tsaiya laying ducks selected for five generations by independent culling levels, first on a linear phenotypic index for the first three traits, and then oil ES30 or ES40. The genetic parameters estimated in the base population were used to calculate the expected genetic gains in one generation of selection. The genetic responses per generation were evaluated by averaging the multitrait best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) animal model predictors and regressing them on generation number. The per generation genetic responses were +0.177 g (EW40); +8.029 g (BW40); +0.935 eggs (NEGG52); +0.017 kg/cm super(2) (ES30); +0.014 kg/cm super(2) (ES40). These values fit the expected genetic gains for NEGG52, but they are higher than those for BW40 and lower than those for ES30 and ES40. It was shown that, compared to the selection method which has been used and with the same selection intensity in female ducks (i = 1.271), constrained selection based on a phenotypic selection index or a genetic index could increase the expected genetic gains in NEGG52 by a factor of 3.5 or 5.7, respectively, while maintaining constant EW40 and BW40.