Title: Growth patterns for three generations of an intercross between red junglefowl and chickens selected for low body weight

Abstract

Abstract Growth is a complex and dynamic process that may be measured at a specific point or over a period of time. Compared was the growth of male and female chickens over a three‐generation period. Involved were red junglefowl ( RJF ; Gallus gallus ), a line of White Plymouth Rock chickens ( LWS ; Gallus gallus domesticus ) selected for low body weight, and their reciprocal F ₁ and F ₂ crosses. In both sexes, Gompertz's description of growth showed that RJF had significantly lower asymptotes, earlier inflection points, and faster growth rates than LWS . Heterosis for these measures was positive for asymptote and negative for growth rate and inflection point. The RJF commenced egg production at a significantly younger age and lower body weight than LWS . Although F ₁ and F ₂ reciprocal crosses were similar for body weight and for age at first egg, the F ₁ reciprocal crosses began lay at significantly younger ages than the F ₂ crosses and parental lines. When viewed on a physiological basis where age and body weight were simultaneously standardized, both parental lines and reciprocal F ₁ and F ₂ crosses had differing rapid and lag growth phases.more » Overall, sexual dimorphism increased in all populations from hatch to sexual maturity. The LWS males had a longer growth period consistent with their female counterparts who became sexually mature at older ages. Comprehensively, these results indicate additive and nonadditive genetic variation for distinct growth patterns and changes in resource allocation strategies over time.« less

Authors:

Sutherland, Dez‐Ann Antoinette Therese ^[1]; Honaker, Christa Ferst ^[1]; Dorshorst, Ben ^[1]; Andersson, Leif ^[2]; Brisbin, Jr, I. Lehr ^[3]; Siegel, Paul B.  ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA USA
2. Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology Uppsala Biomedical Center Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
3. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Odum School of Ecology University of Georgia Aiken SC USA

Publication Date:

Thu Jun 21 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1456276

Grant/Contract Number:  

DE‐EM0004391

Resource Type:

Publisher's Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics Journal Volume: 135 Journal Issue: 4; Journal ID: ISSN 0931-2668

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Country of Publication:

Germany

Language:

English