Qi Kunlong, He Juan, Amevor Felix Kwame, Liu Zheliang, Zhai Chencan, Wang Yingjie, Wu Liuting, Shu Gang, Zhao Xiaoling
State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
Poult Sci. 2025 Jul;104(7):105168. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105168. Epub 2025 Apr 17.
Biological ornaments, such as the comb in chickens, act as condition-dependent indicators of mate quality and are influenced by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. In this study, we investigated the histomorphological development of combs in Sichuan Mountaineous Black-bone chickens and examined their relationship with growth performance and hormone levels. At market age, the chickens were classified into large- and small-comb groups based on comb size, and their skeletal traits, slaughter performance, and meat quality were evaluated. The results showed that male chickens with large combs exhibited significantly better skeletal development, including greater shank circumference, breast depth, and breast circumference, although slaughter traits relative to body weight did not differ significantly. In female chickens, a similar pattern was observed in the large-comb group, but the differences were not statistically significant. Meat quality analysis revealed that male chickens with large combs had higher pH and moisture in breast muscle, while crude protein and crude fat were higher in those with smalle combs. L* value and inosine monophosphate (IMP) were more abundant in the breast muscle of female chickens with large combs. Growth hormone (GH) levels were positively associated with comb traits in both sexes, whereas testosterone showed no significant correlation. Gene expression analysis indicated that BMP2 and HSD17B2 were upregulated in small-comb chickens, while chondroadherin-like (CHADL) was upregulated in large-comb chickens. These findings enhance our understanding of the biological basis of comb development and its link to growth performance, offering useful insights for improving productivity in poultry through ornamental trait selection and economic and scientific values.
生物性装饰，如鸡的鸡冠，可作为配偶质量的条件依赖性指标，并受到遗传、激素和环境因素的影响。在本研究中，我们调查了四川山地乌骨鸡鸡冠的组织形态发育，并研究了其与生长性能和激素水平的关系。在上市日龄时，根据鸡冠大小将鸡分为大鸡冠组和小鸡冠组，并对其骨骼性状、屠宰性能和肉质进行评估。结果表明，大鸡冠的公鸡骨骼发育明显更好，包括胫围、胸深和胸围更大，尽管相对于体重的屠宰性状差异不显著。在母鸡中，大鸡冠组也观察到类似模式，但差异无统计学意义。肉质分析表明，大鸡冠公鸡胸肌的pH值和水分含量较高，而小鸡冠公鸡的粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量较高。大鸡冠母鸡胸肌中的L*值和肌苷一磷酸（IMP）含量更高。生长激素（GH）水平在两性中均与鸡冠性状呈正相关，而睾酮则无显著相关性。基因表达分析表明，BMP2和HSD17B2在小鸡冠鸡中上调，而类软骨黏附素（CHADL）在大鸡冠鸡中上调。这些发现加深了我们对鸡冠发育的生物学基础及其与生长性能关系的理解，为通过观赏性状选择提高家禽生产力提供了有益的见解，具有经济和科学价值。
