Tian Xinyang, Zhou Junkun, Qin Yinghe, Zhang Kai, Sun Wenqiang, Lai Song-Jia, Jia Xianbo, Chen Shi-Yi
Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
Microorganisms. 2024 Oct 19;12(10):2091. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12102091.
Rabbits can efficiently utilize plant fibers that are indigestible to humans, and hence may contribute to the alleviation of feed-food competition. Therefore, it is economically and ecologically important to genetically improve the growth performance and feed efficiency of meat rabbits. In this study, we combined pedigree, genomic, and gut microbiota data to estimate genetic and microbial parameters for nine growth and feed efficiency traits of 739 New Zealand White rabbits, including body weight (BW) at 35 (BW35), 70 (BW70), and 84 (BW84) days of age, and average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI) within two age intervals of 35-70 days (ADG70, FCR70, and RFI70) and 35-84 days (ADG84, FCR84, and RFI84). Based on single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction, three BW traits and two ADG traits had the high estimates (±standard error, SE) of heritability, ranging from 0.44 ± 0.13 of BW35 to 0.66 ± 0.08 of BW70. Moderate heritabilities were observed for RFI70 (0.22 ± 0.07) and RFI84 (0.29 ± 0.07), whereas the estimates did not significantly deviate from zero for the two FCR traits. There was moderate positive genetic correlation (±SE) between BW70 and ADG70 (0.579 ± 0.086), but BW70 did not correlate with RFI70. Based on microbial best linear unbiased prediction, the estimates of microbiability did not significantly deviate from zero for any trait. Based on the combined use of genomic and gut microbiota data, the parameters obtained in this study could help us to implement efficient breeding schemes in meat rabbits.
兔子能够有效利用人类难以消化的植物纤维，因此有助于缓解饲料与粮食之间的竞争。所以，从经济和生态角度来看，通过基因改良提高肉兔的生长性能和饲料效率具有重要意义。在本研究中，我们整合了系谱、基因组和肠道微生物群数据，以估计739只新西兰白兔九个生长和饲料效率性状的遗传和微生物参数，这些性状包括35日龄（BW35）、70日龄（BW70）和84日龄（BW84）时的体重（BW），以及35至70日龄（ADG70、FCR70和RFI70）和35至84日龄（ADG84、FCR84和RFI84）两个年龄段内的平均日增重（ADG）、饲料转化率（FCR）和剩余采食量（RFI）。基于单步基因组最佳线性无偏预测，三个体重性状和两个平均日增重性状具有较高的遗传力估计值（±标准误，SE），范围从BW35的0.44±0.13到BW70的0.66±0.08。RFI70（0.22±0.07）和RFI84（0.29±0.07）的遗传力中等，而两个饲料转化率性状的估计值与零无显著差异。BW70和ADG70之间存在中等程度的正遗传相关性（±SE）（0.579±0.086），但BW70与RFI70不相关。基于微生物最佳线性无偏预测，任何性状的微生物可遗传性估计值与零无显著差异。基于基因组和肠道微生物群数据的联合使用，本研究中获得的参数有助于我们在肉兔中实施高效的育种方案。
