Animal and Poultry Production, Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh 13736, Qalyubia, Egypt.
Department of Animal Productions, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor, Toukh 13736, Qalyubia, Egypt.
Poult Sci. 2024 Feb;103(2):103358. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103358. Epub 2023 Dec 6.
Investigating the impact of early egg production selection (the first 90 d of laying) on egg production features, cumulative selection response (CSR), and the mRNA expression of gonadotropins (FSHβ and LHβ), and their receptors (FSHR and LHR), in Japanese quails was the goal. The selection experiment involved 1293 females in all, 257 from the base group and 1036 from the 4 selected generations. Age and body weight at sexual maturity (ASM, BWSM), weight of the first egg (WFE), days to the first 10 eggs (DF10E), egg mass for the first 10 eggs (EMF10E), egg weight (EW), egg number at the first 90 d of laying (EN90D), and egg mass at the first 90 d of laying (EM90D) were all recorded. Most egg production traits had heritability estimates that were low to moderate and ranged from 0.17 to 0.33., where the highest estimates were reported for EN90D (0.33) and BWSM (0.32). With the exception of EN90D, low to moderate positive genetic correlations were observed between ASM and other egg production traits (0.17-0.44). The fourth generation showed significantly (P < 0.05) lower ASM and DF10E but higher BWSM, WFE, EN90D, EM10E, and EM90D when compared with the base generation. CSR were significant (P < 0.05) for ASM (-6.67 d), BWSM (27.13 g), WFE (0.93 g), DF10E (-1.25 d), EN90D (7.24 egg), EM10E (10.57 g), and EM90D (140.0 g). FSHβ, LHβ, FSHR, and LHR gene mRNA expression was considerably (P < 0.05) greater in the fourth generation compared to the base generation. In conclusion, selection programs depending on the efficiency of egg production (EN90D) could improve the genetic gain of egg production traits and upregulate the mRNA expression of FSHβ, LHβ, FSHR, and LHR genes in selected quails (fourth generation). These findings might help to enhance breeding plans and create commercial lines of high egg production Japanese quails.
本研究旨在探讨早期产蛋选择（产蛋前 90 天）对鹌鹑产蛋性能、累积选择反应（CSR）以及促性腺激素（FSHβ 和 LHβ）及其受体（FSHR 和 LHR）mRNA 表达的影响。该选择实验共涉及 1293 只雌性鹌鹑，其中基础组 257 只，4 个选择代 1036 只。记录了性成熟年龄和体重（ASM、BWSM）、第一枚蛋重（WFE）、第一 10 枚蛋所需天数（DF10E）、第一 10 枚蛋蛋重（EMF10E）、蛋重（EW）、产蛋前 90 天产蛋数（EN90D）和产蛋前 90 天蛋重（EM90D）。大多数产蛋性状的遗传力估计值较低至中等，范围为 0.17 至 0.33，其中 EN90D（0.33）和 BWSM（0.32）的估计值最高。除了 EN90D，ASM 与其他产蛋性状之间存在低至中度的正遗传相关性（0.17-0.44）。与基础群相比，第四代的 ASM 和 DF10E 显著降低（P < 0.05），但 BWSM、WFE、EN90D、EM10E 和 EM90D 显著升高。ASM（-6.67 d）、BWSM（27.13 g）、WFE（0.93 g）、DF10E（-1.25 d）、EN90D（7.24 枚）、EM10E（10.57 g）和 EM90D（140.0 g）的 CSR 均显著（P < 0.05）。与基础群相比，第四代 FSHβ、LHβ、FSHR 和 LHR 基因 mRNA 表达显著升高（P < 0.05）。总之，基于产蛋效率（EN90D）的选择方案可以提高产蛋性状的遗传增益，并上调选择鹌鹑（第四代）中 FSHβ、LHβ、FSHR 和 LHR 基因的 mRNA 表达。这些发现可能有助于增强育种计划，并创造高产蛋日本鹌鹑的商业品系。
