Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026

In Ovo Feeding of Commercial Broiler Eggs: An Accurate and Reproducible Method to Affect Muscle Development and Growth
Published on: September 20, 2021
Estimates of genetic trend for carcass traits in a commercial broiler line
J L B M Grosso1, J C C Balieiro, J P Eler
1Departamento de Ciências Básicas, Grupo de Melhoramento Animal e Biotecnologia, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil. janelaragrosso@usp.br
Abstract:
Data from the slaughter of 24,001 chickens that were part of a selection program for the production of commercial broilers were used to estimate genetic trend for absolute carcass (CW), breast meat (BRW), and leg (LW) weights, and relative carcass (CY), breast meat (BRY), and leg (LY) weights. The components of (co)variance and breeding values of individuals were obtained by the restricted maximum likelihood method applied to animal models. The relationship matrix was composed of 132,442 birds. The models included as random effects, maternal additive genetic and permanent environmental for CW, BRW, LW, CY, and BRY, and only maternal permanent environmental for LY, besides the direct additive genetic and residual effects, and as fixed effects, hatch week, parents' mating group and sex. The estimates of genetic trend were obtained by average regression of breeding value on generation, and the average genetic trend was estimated by regression coefficients. The genetic trends for CW (+6.0336 g/generation), BRW (+3.6723 g/generation), LW (+1.5846 g/generation), CY (+0.1195%/generation), and BRY (+0.1388%/generation) were positive, and they were in accordance with the objectives of the selection program for these traits. The genetic trend for LY (-0.0019%/generation) was negative, possibly due to the strong emphasis on selection for BRY and the negative correlations between these two traits.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Heritability
Derivatives: Problem Solving
Genetic Variation
Genes exist in different versions called alleles, which...
Genetic Drift
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Hardy-Weinberg Principle

