Eggshell Quality Traits and Transcriptome Gene Screening Between Yunnong and Jingfen Chicken Breeds

Area of Science:

• Animal Genetics
• Poultry Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Eggshell quality is vital for avian commercial and breeding applications.
• Genetic markers for eggshell traits in Yunnong (YN) chickens are currently underexplored.
• Advanced biotechnologies like gene sequencing are increasingly used in livestock trait analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare eggshell quality traits between Yunnong chickens and commercial Jingfen chickens (JF).
• To identify potential genetic markers associated with eggshell quality in YN chickens.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of eggshell quality traits in 400 YN and JF chicks over 300 days.
• Scanning electron microscopy of eggshell cross-sections and mammillary layers from 60 eggs per breed.
• RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in kidney and eggshell gland tissues from six hens per breed.

Main Results:

• YN chickens demonstrated significantly higher eggshell strength, thickness, mammillary density, and effective layer thickness (p < 0.01) than JF chickens.
• Five candidate genes (LSS, NSDHL, MSMO1, SQLE, FDFT1) were confirmed to be important for eggshell formation.
• Pathway analysis indicated enrichment in steroid biosynthesis, glycerolipid metabolism, purine metabolism, and thiamine metabolism.

Conclusions:

• Yunnong chickens possess superior eggshell quality characterized by better thickness, mammillary density, and effective layer thickness.
• Genomic and pathway analyses suggest a complex interplay of metabolic, immune, and cellular processes influencing poultry eggshell quality.