College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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    ASSOCIATION OF SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS WITH PHENOTYPIC PRODUCTION TRAITS IN BROILER CHICKENS
    (2009) Liu, Xuan; Porter, Tom E; Animal Sciences; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    This research investigated the association between SNPs and phenotypic production traits in fat and lean chicken broiler lines. In previous research, eleven SNPs in the promoter regions of four candidate genes were selected. In this study, significant associations were detected between AKR1B10 SNP1 and SDC1 SNP1 and fat yield. SDC1 SNP1 was significantly associated with fat weight. SOD3 SNP2 was associated with breast yield. Five sire-SNP interactions and one sex-SNP interaction were significant. There was a significant interaction between sex and SDC1 SNP3 on muscle-related factor. GPC3 SNP1 interacted with time period on body weight from week 1 to week 9. QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3 and 4 for body fat were refined by incorporating these SNPs into QTL analysis. These genetic markers may be of great value for marker-assisted selection (MAS) for chickens with less abdominal fat as well as genetic markers for body fat accumulation in humans.
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    Effects of barrier perches and stocking density on the behavior, space use, and leg health of the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus)
    (2009) Ventura, Beth Ann; Estevez, Inmaculada; Animal Sciences; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    The objective of this study was to discern whether providing enrichment in the form of barrier perches across a range of densities might improve leg and foot health and promote behavioral expression and more even use of space in broilers. To investigate this, 2,088 day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to one of three barrier treatments at one of three densities. Effects on behavior, space use, foot and hock health, tibia fluctuating asymmetry, fear and production were subsequently assessed. Higher densities appeared to compromise broiler welfare, seen by increased tibia length asymmetry, poorer foot and hock health, suppression of activity, increased disturbances, and decreased use of space. Conversely, barrier perches - particularly simple barriers - appeared to improve footpad quality, promote increased perching and activity, decrease aggression and disturbances, and improve use of the central pen space, all without negatively impacting production traits.