Relationship between broiler chicken haematocrit-selected parents and their progeny, with regard to haematocrit, mortality from ascites and bodyweight

A. Shlosberg*, M. Bellaiche, E. Berman, S. Perk, N. Deeb, E. Neumark, A. Cahaner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

A previous work of this group demonstrated that the relative haematocrit value of broilers is inherited and may serve as an indicator to susceptibility to the ascites syndrome in cold-stressed broilers. In this study, a full-pedigreed population was produced from male and female grandparent breeding stock that was selected by haematocrit and by normal selection parameters. Matings were made between low (L), medium (M) and high (H) haematocrit parents: L × L, M × M, and H × H. In their progeny, both before and after cold exposure, there was a statistically linear relationship between actual haematocrit and their H, M and L grouping (P<0.0001); heritability of the haematocrit was high (0.46-0.81). Both the low haematocrit parent and progeny groups showed an increased bodyweight. Exposure of the progeny from all the parental groups to an ascites-predisposing cold environment caused similar losses from ascites in the progeny of all three groups. Although this finding was not the same as in the previous trial where the II haematocrit group was associated with high ascites mortality, it is hypothesized that other factors, such as arterial blood saturation with oxygen, interacted in these birds at genetic or environmental levels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)105-109
Number of pages5
JournalResearch in Veterinary Science
Volume64
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998

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