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Differences in the Expression of Genes in Lame and Normal Broiler Chickens Identified by Subtraction Hybridisation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

A Butterworth ,
N A Reeves ,
T G Knowles  and
S C Kestin
A Butterworth*
Affiliation:
Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol University Veterinary School, Langford, North Somerset BS40 5DU, UK
N A Reeves
Affiliation:
Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol University Veterinary School, Langford, North Somerset BS40 5DU, UK
T G Knowles
Affiliation:
Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol University Veterinary School, Langford, North Somerset BS40 5DU, UK
S C Kestin
Affiliation:
Clinical Veterinary Science, Bristol University Veterinary School, Langford, North Somerset BS40 5DU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: andy.butterworth@bris.ac.uk
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Abstract

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In the UK, broiler chickens are normally slaughtered at about six weeks of age when they weigh approximately 2.2 kg; this contrasts with the growth of an ‘unimproved’ traditional strain of bird such as a White Sussex, which would weigh about 800 g at the same age. Lameness, characterised by abnormal gait, posture and impaired walking ability, can be prevalent in these rapidly growing birds and has been highlighted as a major welfare concern. It is during the later stages of rearing, when the bird is becoming heavy and may be achieving weight gains of over 50 g per day, that lameness begins to have an economic and welfare impact on the flock and to compromise the behaviour of large numbers of birds. A study was carried out to identify potential differences in the expression of genes between groups of lame and normal broiler chickens using subtraction hybridisation. The first group comprised lame birds with measurable gait abnormalities, and the second group comprised sound (not lame) birds. Both populations came from within the same flock. After extraction of mRNA and creation of cDNA, subtractive hybridisation was performed to eliminate genetic sequences common to both populations. The resultant DNA was separated and presented for sequence data analysis and comparison with a large sequence database. Some examples of the subtracted sequences detected are given, and the potential significance of these sequence differences at the individual and group level is discussed.

Keywords

animal welfarebroilergeneticgenomelamenesssubtraction hybridisation
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 12 , Issue 4: Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on the Assessment of Animal Welfare at Farm and Group Level , November 2003 , pp. 661 - 667
Copyright
© 2003 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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