Genome-wide association studies for feed intake and efficiency in two laying periods of chickens

• DOI: 10.1186/s12711-015-0161-1
• Publication Date: 2015-10-16T03:28:20Z
• Authors: Jingwei Yuan; Kehua Wang; Guoqiang Yi; Meng Ma; Taocun Dou; Congjiao Sun; Lu-Jiang Qu; Manman Shen; Liang Qu; Ning Yang
• Keywords: Genome-wide Association Study; Candidate gene; Residual feed intake; Genetic Association; SNP genotyping; Univariate

Feed contributes to over 60 % of the total production costs in poultry industry. Increasing feed prompt geneticists include intake and efficiency as selection goals breeding programs. In present study, we used an F2 chicken population a genome-wide association study (GWAS) detect potential genetic variants candidate genes associated with daily (FI) efficiency, including residual (RFI) conversion ratio (FCR). A 1534 hens from White Leghorn Dongxiang reciprocal cross were phenotyped for between 37 40 weeks (FI1, RFI1, FCR1) 57 (FI2, RFI2, FCR2), genotyped using 600 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping array. Univariate, bivariate, conditional studies performed GEMMA, efficient mixed model algorithm. The statistical significance threshold was inferred by simpleM method. We identified eight genomic regions that each contained at least one variant showed significant FI. Genomic on Gallus gallus (GGA) chromosome 4 coincided known quantitative trait loci (QTL) affect layers. Of particular interest, SNPs GGA1 region 169.23 171.55 Mb consistently FI both univariate bivariate GWAS, which explained 3.72 2.57 phenotypic variance FI1 FI2, respectively. CAB39L gene can be considered promising FI1. For RFI, haplotype block GGA27 harbored SNP RFI2. major allele rs315135692 favorable lower difference 3.35 g/day opposite homozygous genotypes. Strong signals detected GWAS FCR. results demonstrated polygenic nature intake. novel confirmed QTL previously reported chickens. Genetic may programs select more