ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2018, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (4): 659-666.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2018.04.001

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Genetic Characterization of Cuticle and Its Association with Eggshell Quality Traits

LI Wen-bo1, CHEN Xia1, YUAN Zhong-yang1, YU Ying-ying1, WU Gui-qin2, SHI Feng-ying2, YANG Ning1, XU Gui-yun1, ZHENG Jiang-xia1*   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China;
    2. Beijing Huadu Yukou Poultry Industry Co. LTD., Beijing 101206, China
  • Received:2017-08-14 Online:2018-04-23 Published:2018-04-23

Abstract:

In this study, we evaluated cuticle quality and other eggshell quality traits in the Rhode Island Red hens, and we also calculated the genetic and phenotypic correlations between cuticle quality and other eggshells quality traits, which could provide theoretical support for cuticle quality optimization and breeding in the domestic brown/pink egg layer, as well as enhancement of antibacterial properties of egg. We measured cuticle qualities of 3 283 Rhode Island Red hens (120 pedigrees) in Beijing Huadu Yukou Poultry Industry Co. LTD.. Cuticle quality heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlation between cuticle quality and other eggshell quality traits were evaluated by DMU software. The results showed that the value of cuticle quality was (24.24±9.13)%, and its heritability was 0.40 (medium heritability). The values of eggshell color (L*, a*, b*), eggshell strength and eggshell thickness were (61.45±4.91), (17.79±2.34), (30.59±2.50), (3.22±0.75) kg·cm-2 and (324.85±42.37)μm, respectively. Their heritability were from 0.39 to 0.17, which represented heritability from medium to low. Furthermore, the genetic correlations between cuticle quality and eggshell color (L*, a*, b*) were —0.49, 0.43 and —0.27, respectively. Both eggshell strength and eggshell thickness showed weak correlation with cuticle quality, which were 0.02 and 0.13, respectively. The genetic correlation between eggshell strength and eggshell thickness was 0.72. In conclusion, direct selection of cuticle quality (high heritability) could accelerate genetic progress and improve breeding efficiency. Selection of cuticle quality might deepen eggshell color, since it was related to the L*, a* and b* values. Besides, selection of cuticle quality would not significantly impact eggshell strength and thickness owing to low genetic correlations between them.

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