Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T19:55:21.730Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Evidence for genetic improvement of layer stocks of chickens during 1950-80

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2009

I. McMillan ,
R.W. Fairfull ,
R.S. Gowe  and
J.S. Gavora
I. McMillan
Affiliation:
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
R.W. Fairfull
Affiliation:
Animal Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada
R.S. Gowe
Affiliation:
Animal Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada
J.S. Gavora
Affiliation:
Animal Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0C6, Canada
Get access

Abstract

Genetic improvement in production of commercial layers was examined by comparing production profiles of three strains representing commercial stocks of the two decades between 1950 and 1970, and by considering North American random sample tests for several production traits performed during the period 1970–80 with stocks that are used commercially in temperate climates around the world. Changes in the production profiles indicate commencement of production at an earlier age and increased persistency of egg production after reaching the peak level. Results from the North American random sample tests of multiple trait selected stocks show improvements not only in egg production, but also in egg size, while egg quality and viability have been maintained.

Keywords

Eggsgeneticsimprovementproductionrandom sample testingsize
Type
Reviews
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 46 , Issue 3 , November 1990 , pp. 235 - 245
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bennett, G.L., Dickerson, G.E. and Kashyap, T.S. (1981) Effectiveness of progeny test index selection for field performance of strain-cross layers. II. Predicted and realized responses. Poultry Science 60: 22–33Google Scholar
Clayton, G.A. (1968) Some implications of selection results in poultry. World's Poultry Science Journal 24: 37–57Google Scholar
Clayton, G.A. (1972) Selection plateaux in poultry. Annals of Genetics Cell Anim. 4: 561–568Google Scholar
Clayton, G.A. (1978) Genetics in the poultry industry. World's Poultry Science Journal 34: 205–208Google Scholar
Dickerson, G.E. (1965) Experimental evaluation of selection theory in poultry. Genetics Today 3: 747Google Scholar
Dickerson, G.E. (1968) Lessons to be learned from poultry breeding. In: Proceedings of Symposium on Animal Breeding in the age of A.I., University of Wisconsin and American Breeders Service, Madison, Wisconsin, USA, pp. 69–99Google Scholar
Dickerson, G.E. and Mather, F.B. (1976) Evidence concerning genetic improvement in commercial stocks of layers. Poultry Science 55: 2327–2342Google Scholar
Dickerson, G.E., Kashyap, T.S., Bennett, G.L., Goodwin, K. and Emsley, J.A.B. (1983) Use of repeated matings to estimate environmental and genetic trends and effects of relaxing selection in a selected strain of Leghorn chickens. Poultry Science 62: 212–226Google Scholar
Falconer, D.S. (1981) Introduction to Quantitative Genetics, 2nd Edn., Longman, New York, NY, USAGoogle Scholar
Flock, D.K. (1979) Genetic improvement of egg production in laying chickens. In: Selection Experiments in Laboratory and Domestic Animals (Ed. Robertson, A.) Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, Slough, UK, pp. 214–224Google Scholar
Foster, W.H. and Weatherup, S.T.C. (1977) An estimation of the advances achieved over seven years by selection within commercial egg-laying breeds. World's Poultry Science Journal 33: 133–139Google Scholar
Gavora, J.S., Parker, R.S. and McMillan, I. (1971) Mathematical model of egg production. Poultry Science 50: 1306–1315Google Scholar
Gavora, J.S., Spencer, J.L., Gowe, R.S. and Harris, D.L. (1980) Lymphoid leukosis virus infection: effects on production and mortality and consequences in selection for high egg production. Poultry Science 59: 2165–2178Google Scholar
Gowe, R.S. and Fairfull, R.W. (1984) Effect of selection for part-record number of eggs from housing vs selection for hen-day rate of production from age at first egg. In: Poultry Genetic Breeding (Eds. Hill, W.G., Manson, J.H. and Hewitt, D.), Longman, New York, NY, USA, pp. 214–224Google Scholar
Gowe, R.S. and Fairfull, R.W. (1985) The direct response to long-term selection multiple traits in egg stocks and changes in genetic parameters with selection. Annals Agriculture Fenniae 23: 196–203Google Scholar
Gowe, R.S., Lentz, W.E. and Strain, J.H. (1973) Long-term selection for egg production in several strains of White Leghorns: performance of selected and control strains including genetic parameters of two control strains. Proceedings of 4th European Poultry Conference,London, UK, pp. 225–245Google Scholar
Kashyap, T.S., Dickerson, G.E. and Bennett, G.L. (1981) Effectiveness of progeny test multiple-trait index selection for field performance of strain-cross layers. I. Estimated responses. Poultry Science 60: 1–21Google Scholar
King, S.C., Carson, J.R. and Doolittle, D.P. (1959) The Connecticut and Cornell randombred populations of chickens. World's Poultry Science Journal 15: 139–159Google Scholar
Kolstad, N. (1979) Genetic progress achieved in commercial breeding for egg production. Acta Agriculturoe Scandinavica 29: 349–353Google Scholar
McMillan, I. (1981) Compartmental model analysis of poultry egg production curves. Poultry Science 60: 1549–1551Google Scholar
McMillan, I., Fitz-Earle, M., Butler, L. and Robson, D.S. (1970) Quantitative genetics of fertility, I and II. Genetics 65: 349–369Google Scholar
SAS (1979) SAS User's Guide SAS Institute Incorporated, Cary, NC, USAGoogle Scholar
Von Krosigk, C.M., Havenstein, G.B., Flock, D.K. and McClary, C.F. (1973) Estimates of response to White Leghorns under reciprocal recurrent selection. Proceedings of 4th European Poultry Conference,London, UK, pp. 265–271Google Scholar