Genetic analysis of survival and fitness in turkeys with multiple-trait animal models

Genetic parameters for production, survival, and structural fitness traits recorded in pedigreed turkey sire and dam parental lines from a nucleus breeding program were estimated with multiple-trait animal models. Survival and conformation traits were scored in binary terms of health, where 0 = died or affected, and 1 = survived or healthy. Walking ability at 20 wk was subjectively scored from 1 (poor) to 6 (excellent). Body weights and egg production displayed moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.18 to 0.35). Early survival (to 3 wk) displayed low heritability (h(2) = 0.02 and 0.04 for the dam and sire lines, respectively). Late survival (3 to 23 wk) and longevity (age at death or cull) had low to moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.12 to 0.14). Walking ability had moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.26, 0.25). Leg structure health displayed low heritability (h(2) = 0.08), as did hip structure, foot, and skin health (h(2) ≤ 0.02). Crop health displayed moderate heritability (h(2) = 0.12). Walking ability, hip and leg structures, footpad, and breast skin health had negative genetic correlations with BW (r(G) = -0.50 to -0.23). Egg production had moderate positive genetic correlation with late survival (r(G) = 0.61). Genetic correlations between early and late survival were close to zero (r(G) = 0.10 and 0.03 for the dam and sire lines, respectively). Walking ability had high positive genetic correlations with late survival, longevity, hip structure, and leg structure in both lines (r(G) = 0.51 to 0.91). These genetic parameters indicate that unchecked selection for growth could decrease survival, walking ability, and hip, leg, footpad, and skin health in turkeys. However, index selection should be effective at improving fitness, survival, and growth simultaneously in commercial turkey lines. Walking ability should be a good indicator trait for selection to improve overall late survival and hip and leg health in turkeys.