Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1 Canada.
Poult Sci. 2011 Nov;90(11):2479-86. doi: 10.3382/ps.2011-01604.
Genetic parameters for production, survival, and structural fitness traits recorded in pedigreed turkey sire and dam parental lines from a nucleus breeding program were estimated with multiple-trait animal models. Survival and conformation traits were scored in binary terms of health, where 0 = died or affected, and 1 = survived or healthy. Walking ability at 20 wk was subjectively scored from 1 (poor) to 6 (excellent). Body weights and egg production displayed moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.18 to 0.35). Early survival (to 3 wk) displayed low heritability (h(2) = 0.02 and 0.04 for the dam and sire lines, respectively). Late survival (3 to 23 wk) and longevity (age at death or cull) had low to moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.12 to 0.14). Walking ability had moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.26, 0.25). Leg structure health displayed low heritability (h(2) = 0.08), as did hip structure, foot, and skin health (h(2) ≤ 0.02). Crop health displayed moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.12). Walking ability, hip and leg structures, footpad, and breast skin health had negative genetic correlations with BW (r(G) = -0.50 to -0.23). Egg production had moderate positive genetic correlation with late survival (r(G) = 0.61). Genetic correlations between early and late survival were close to zero (r(G) = 0.10 and 0.03 for the dam and sire lines, respectively). Walking ability had high positive genetic correlations with late survival, longevity, hip structure, and leg structure in both lines (r(G) = 0.51 to 0.91). These genetic parameters indicate that unchecked selection for growth could decrease survival, walking ability, and hip, leg, footpad, and skin health in turkeys. However, index selection should be effective at improving fitness, survival, and growth simultaneously in commercial turkey lines. Walking ability should be a good indicator trait for selection to improve overall late survival and hip and leg health in turkeys.
采用多性状动物模型估计了源自核心育种群的火鸡父本和母本系谱记录的生产、存活和结构适应性性状的遗传参数。存活和体型性状按健康状况评分，其中 0=死亡或患病，1=存活或健康。20 周时的行走能力进行主观评分，从 1（差）到 6（优）。体重和产蛋量表现出中度遗传力（h²=0.18 到 0.35）。早期存活率（3 周龄前）遗传力低（母本和父本系谱分别为 h²=0.02 和 0.04）。晚期存活率（3 到 23 周龄）和长寿（死亡或淘汰时的年龄）具有低到中度遗传力（h²=0.12 到 0.14）。行走能力具有中度遗传力（h²=0.26、0.25）。腿部结构健康遗传力低（h²=0.08），臀部结构、脚部和皮肤健康也是如此（h²≤0.02）。嗉囊健康具有中度遗传力（h²=0.12）。行走能力、臀部和腿部结构、脚垫和胸部皮肤健康与 BW 呈负遗传相关（r(G)=-0.50 到-0.23）。产蛋量与晚期存活率呈中度正遗传相关（r(G)=0.61）。早期存活率和晚期存活率之间的遗传相关接近零（母本和父本系谱分别为 r(G)=0.10 和 0.03）。行走能力与两条系谱中的晚期存活率、长寿、臀部结构和腿部结构呈高度正遗传相关（r(G)=0.51 到 0.91）。这些遗传参数表明，对生长的无限制选择可能会降低火鸡的存活率、行走能力以及臀部、腿部、脚垫和皮肤健康。然而，指数选择应该能够有效地提高商业火鸡系谱的适应性、存活率和生长。行走能力应该是一个很好的选择指标，用于改善火鸡的整体晚期存活率和臀部及腿部健康。
