Broiler breeding strategies using indirect carcass measurements

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Quantitative Genetics
• Poultry Breeding

Background:

• Traditional broiler breeding relies on direct carcass measurements from relatives.
• Optimizing genetic response and managing inbreeding are critical for sustainable breeding programs.
• Indirect measurements offer a potential alternative to improve selection efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of indirect carcass measurements on genetic response and inbreeding rates in broiler breeding.
• To compare alternative breeding schemes utilizing indirect measurements against a base scheme with direct measurements.
• To assess the influence of measurement accuracy on genetic gain and inbreeding.

Main Methods:

• Deterministic simulation of three alternative breeding schemes incorporating indirect carcass measurements.
• Comparison of genetic response for breast muscle percentage (BMP) and rate of inbreeding.
• Inclusion of own performance information and measurements on relatives in alternative schemes.

Main Results:

• The third alternative scheme, using indirect measurements on both sexes and direct on relatives, increased BMP genetic response by 66.2% compared to the base scheme.
• The rate of inbreeding decreased from 0.96% to 0.79% per generation in the third alternative scheme.
• An indirect measurement accuracy of 30% was often sufficient to outperform the base scheme in terms of genetic gain and inbreeding reduction.

Conclusions:

• Indirect carcass measurements can substantially improve genetic gain and reduce inbreeding in broiler breeding programs.
• Utilizing own performance information for selection candidates is beneficial for mitigating inbreeding.
• The accuracy of indirect measurements is a key factor influencing the effectiveness of alternative breeding schemes.