Selection strategies using QTL information for egg production trait in native fowls

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the consequences of selection strategies applying MAS forimproving egg production trait of Iranian native fowls using deterministic modelling. Comparison criteria wasgenetic response for breeding goal’s traits, economic response and increasing rate of inbreeding pergeneration. Deterministic simulation by SelAction software was used. Base generation individuals wereassumed to originate from a large population in Hardy-Weinberg and gametic phase equilibriums. Thebreeding goal consisted of body weight at 8wks of age (BW8), egg number during the first 12 weeks of thelaying period (EN), egg weight (EW), and age at sexual maturity (ASM). Scenario applying QTL-information(5, 10, 20, and 50%) of egg number trait were compared to base scenario (the same breeding goal). Usinginformation on QTL that described 5% of the genetic variance (Q05) of breeding goal trait EN, geneticresponse for EN was 14% higher for selected fractions equal to that of the base scenario. For Q10, Q20 andQ50, the genetic response per generation was 25, 43 and 84 higher compared to the base scenario. Inbreedingfor the MAS scenario was at a lower level in compared to that of the base scenario. It can be concluded thatintegration of MAS in poultry breeding programs is dependent on economic analysis.

Keywords:

Iranian native fowl , production traits , selection strategies , deterministic modelling