Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross

In the present study, effects of crossbreeding on egg production traits were evaluated using a 4 × 4 full diallel cross involving four chicken breeds: Improved Horro (H), Sasso (S), Potchefstroom Koekoek (K), and Dz-white feathered (D). The experiment included 800 chickens in a completely randomized...

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Autores principales: Teshome, Philimon, Goshu, G., Esatu, Wondmeneh, Dessie, Tadelle
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175242
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author Teshome, Philimon
Goshu, G.
Esatu, Wondmeneh
Dessie, Tadelle
author_browse Dessie, Tadelle
Esatu, Wondmeneh
Goshu, G.
Teshome, Philimon
author_facet Teshome, Philimon
Goshu, G.
Esatu, Wondmeneh
Dessie, Tadelle
author_sort Teshome, Philimon
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In the present study, effects of crossbreeding on egg production traits were evaluated using a 4 × 4 full diallel cross involving four chicken breeds: Improved Horro (H), Sasso (S), Potchefstroom Koekoek (K), and Dz-white feathered (D). The experiment included 800 chickens in a completely randomized design. Data on egg production traits were collected over 40 weeks (WK). Genotypes exhibited significant variations (P < 0.0001) in age at first egg (AFE), body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM), egg weight at first egg (EWAFE), egg number (EN), hen-housed egg production (HHEP), hen-day egg production (HDEP), and egg mass (EM). Heterosis effects (H<sup>e</sup>) varied widely, with positive H<sup>e</sup> for BWSM and EM in most crosses, while AFE consistently showed negative H<sup>e</sup>. All reciprocal crosses showed positive H<sup>e</sup> for EWAFE, while direct crosses had negative values except H × S and H × D. The K × H cross showed the highest H<sup>e</sup> for HHEP (26.85%), HDEP (29.44%), EM (40.88%), and EN (28.27%). The cross D × H also exhibited strong H<sup>e</sup> for HHEP (25.16%) and EN (24.60%), while K × S ranked second for HDEP (22.60%) and EM (33.89%). Reciprocal crosses showed positive H<sup>e</sup> for BWSM, EWAFE, HHEP, HDEP, EM, and EN, except AFE. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were highly significant (P<0.0001) for all traits. Reciprocal effects (RE) and maternal effects (M<sup>e</sup>) also influenced trait expression. GCA/SCA ratios indicated that non-additive effects influenced AFE, while additive effects influenced EWAFE. Moderate ratios for HHEP, HDEP, EM, and EN suggested a balance between additive and non-additive effects. Optimizing crossbreeding strategies, aligning with synthetic breed development, using a K sire with H and S dams, and a D sire with H dam, is recommended to improve egg production.
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spelling CGSpace1752422025-12-08T10:06:44Z Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross Teshome, Philimon Goshu, G. Esatu, Wondmeneh Dessie, Tadelle genetics poultry In the present study, effects of crossbreeding on egg production traits were evaluated using a 4 × 4 full diallel cross involving four chicken breeds: Improved Horro (H), Sasso (S), Potchefstroom Koekoek (K), and Dz-white feathered (D). The experiment included 800 chickens in a completely randomized design. Data on egg production traits were collected over 40 weeks (WK). Genotypes exhibited significant variations (P < 0.0001) in age at first egg (AFE), body weight at sexual maturity (BWSM), egg weight at first egg (EWAFE), egg number (EN), hen-housed egg production (HHEP), hen-day egg production (HDEP), and egg mass (EM). Heterosis effects (H<sup>e</sup>) varied widely, with positive H<sup>e</sup> for BWSM and EM in most crosses, while AFE consistently showed negative H<sup>e</sup>. All reciprocal crosses showed positive H<sup>e</sup> for EWAFE, while direct crosses had negative values except H × S and H × D. The K × H cross showed the highest H<sup>e</sup> for HHEP (26.85%), HDEP (29.44%), EM (40.88%), and EN (28.27%). The cross D × H also exhibited strong H<sup>e</sup> for HHEP (25.16%) and EN (24.60%), while K × S ranked second for HDEP (22.60%) and EM (33.89%). Reciprocal crosses showed positive H<sup>e</sup> for BWSM, EWAFE, HHEP, HDEP, EM, and EN, except AFE. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were highly significant (P<0.0001) for all traits. Reciprocal effects (RE) and maternal effects (M<sup>e</sup>) also influenced trait expression. GCA/SCA ratios indicated that non-additive effects influenced AFE, while additive effects influenced EWAFE. Moderate ratios for HHEP, HDEP, EM, and EN suggested a balance between additive and non-additive effects. Optimizing crossbreeding strategies, aligning with synthetic breed development, using a K sire with H and S dams, and a D sire with H dam, is recommended to improve egg production. 2025-09 2025-06-23T08:30:49Z 2025-06-23T08:30:49Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175242 en Open Access Elsevier Teshome, P., Goshu, G., Esatu, W. and Dessie, T. 2025. Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross. Poultry Science 104(9): 105459.
spellingShingle genetics
poultry
Teshome, Philimon
Goshu, G.
Esatu, Wondmeneh
Dessie, Tadelle
Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
title Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
title_full Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
title_fullStr Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
title_full_unstemmed Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
title_short Genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
title_sort genetic analysis of egg production traits in four chicken breeds using a full diallel cross
topic genetics
poultry
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175242
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AT dessietadelle geneticanalysisofeggproductiontraitsinfourchickenbreedsusingafulldiallelcross