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Isolation of Preadipocytes from Broiler Chick Embryos
Published on: August 4, 2022
A bivariate mixture model analysis of body weight and ascites traits in broilers
S Zerehdaran1, E M van Grevehof, E H van der Waaij
1Animal Breeding and Genetics Group, Wageningen Institute of Animal Science, The Netherlands. Saeed.Zerehdaran@wur.nl
Poultry Science
|February 24, 2006
Summary
Cold stress reveals distinct broiler populations for ascites research. Body weight correlations with ascites indicators differ significantly between non-ascitic and ascitic birds under cold conditions.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Quantitative Genetics
- Poultry Health
Background:
- Ascites syndrome in broilers is a significant welfare and economic concern.
- Environmental factors, particularly cold stress, can exacerbate ascites susceptibility.
- Understanding the relationship between body weight and ascites indicators is crucial for genetic selection and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationships between body weight (BW) and ascites indicator traits using bivariate mixture models.
- To differentiate trait distributions and correlations under normal versus cold-stress conditions.
- To identify distinct populations of birds susceptible or non-susceptible to ascites.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 4,202 broilers under cold conditions and 795 under normal temperatures.
- Measured body weight (BW), right ventricular to total ventricular weight ratio (RV:TV), and hematocrit (HCT).
- Applied bivariate mixture models to analyze trait distributions and phenotypic correlations.
Main Results:
- Under normal temperatures, RV:TV and HCT distributions were normal, indicating a homogeneous population.
- Under cold stress, RV:TV and HCT distributions were skewed, revealing two distinct populations: ascitic and non-ascitic.
- Phenotypic correlations between BW and ascites indicators were near zero in non-ascitic birds but negative in ascitic birds under cold stress.
Conclusions:
- Cold stress induces distinct physiological responses, creating separate populations of ascitic and non-ascitic broilers.
- The relationship between body weight and ascites indicators is population-dependent, particularly under stress.
- Overall correlations are influenced by the prevalence of ascitic versus non-ascitic birds in the population.
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