Detection and localization of quantitative trait loci affecting fatness in broilers.

A cross between 2 genetically different outcross broiler dam lines, originating from the White Plymouth Rock breed, was used to produce a large 3-generation broiler population. This population was used to detect and localize QTL affecting fatness in chicken. Twenty full-sib birds in generation 1 and 456 full-sib birds in generation 2 were typed for microsatellite markers, and phenotypic observations were collected for 3 groups of generation 3 birds (approximately 1,800 birds per group). Body weight, abdominal fat weight, and percentage abdominal fat was recorded at the age of 7, 9, and 10 wk. To study the presence of QTL, an across-family weighted regression interval mapping approach was used in a full-sib QTL analysis. Genotypes from 410 markers mapped on 25 chromosomes were available. For the 3 traits, 26 QTL were found for 18 regions on 12 chromosomes. Two genomewise significant QTL (P < 0.05) were detected, one for percentage abdominal fat at the age of 10 wk on chicken chromosome 1 at 241 cM (MCW0058 to MCW0101) with a test statistic of 2.75 and the other for BW at the age of 10 wk on chicken chromosome 13 at 9 cM (MCW0322 to MCW0110) with a test statistic of 2.77. Significance levels were obtained using the permutation test. Multiple suggestive QTL were found on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 13, 15, and 18, whereas chromosomes 3, 7, 10, 11, 14, and 27 had a single suggestive QTL.