Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
2.7
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Genetics and Breeding Advances in Poultry Health and Production: 2nd...
share announcement

Genetics and Breeding Advances in Poultry Health and Production: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Poultry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 2516

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hongyan Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: poultry breeding and genetics; disease resistance; poultry production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xi Lan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: poultry breeding and genetics; disease resistance; gene editing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The past few decades have seen remarkable improvements in poultry production, such as faster growth and more egg production, driven largely by genetic selection and breeding. However, there are still concerning issues for the modern poultry industry, including compromised meat quality and poultry health due to fast growth, reduced tolerance to heat stress, and great loss due to infectious diseases, which are exacerbated by irreconcilable phenotype traits, noticeable global climate changes, and emerging and evolving pathogen strains. Complex genetic regulation networks consisting of alternative splicing, transcriptional factor binding, gene rearrangement, mutations and copy number changes, chromatin conformation and interactions, and epigenetic changes, and diverse cellular interactions like host–pathogen interactions pose a great challenge to improving these quantitative traits. Fortunately, with advanced techniques, like gene editing, CRISPR screening, high-throughput sequencing, and machine learning, we can now solve these complex issues with improved precision and find core information among big data with enhanced accuracy. With the aim of displaying current advances and enlightening thoughts on these topics, this Special Issue will present a collection of papers illustrating the application of these techniques in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying critical phenotypes such as muscle growth, stress tolerance, and disease resistance.

Dr. Hongyan Sun
Dr. Xi Lan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • breeding and genetics
  • bioinformatics
  • immunology
  • poultry
  • disease resistance
  • stress tolerance
  • food safety

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 1042 KiB  
Article
Functional Polymorphisms in the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Gene Associated with Egg Production in Thai Native, Black-Bone, and Commercial Laying Hens Using SNP Markers
by Doungnapa Promket, Jennarong Kammongkun, Jiranan Insee, Wootichai Kenchaiwong, Khanitta Pengmeesri, Thassawan Somchan and Wuttigrai Boonkum
Animals 2025, 15(5), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050744 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 503
Abstract
This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci within the coding sequence of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene and evaluate their association with egg production traits in Thai native chickens. The goal was to enhance productivity through selective breeding. A total [...] Read more.
This study aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci within the coding sequence of the neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene and evaluate their association with egg production traits in Thai native chickens. The goal was to enhance productivity through selective breeding. A total of 117 chickens, including three Thai native breeds and commercial laying hens, were analyzed. The phenotypic traits measured included age at first egg production (AFEP), first egg weight (FEW), egg weight at 9 months (EW_9M) and 12 months (EW_12M) of egg production period, number of eggs at 9 months (NE_9M) and 12 months (NE_12M) of egg production period, number of eggs per month (EperM), and egg mass (EMs). The NPY gene was sequenced to examine the association between these traits and specific genotypes. The results showed that commercial laying hens (LC) significantly outperformed native breeds in overall egg production. Among the native breeds, Pradu Hang Dum (PH) demonstrated the earliest laying age and the highest cumulative egg production. Genetic diversity analysis revealed moderate heterozygosity levels (PIC = 0.22 to 0.50, He = 0.26 to 0.50). Specific SNP loci (SNP1, SNP2, SNP3, SNP4, SNP5, and SNP6) were found to be associated with key egg production traits, such as AFEP, FEW, EW_9M, EW_12M, NE_9M, NE_12M, EperM, and EMs. These findings highlight the potential of using genetic markers for improving egg production traits in Thai native chickens. By incorporating marker-assisted selection into breeding programs, this research supports the development of more efficient and sustainable poultry farming practices, particularly for local breeds. This study also underscores the importance of preserving genetic diversity while enhancing productivity, ensuring the long-term sustainability of native chicken populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Breeding Advances in Poultry Health and Production: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 285 KiB  
Article
Genetic Profiles of Purine, Uric Acid, Superoxide Dismutase, and Growth in Thai Slow-Growing Chickens
by Wuttigrai Boonkum, Vibuntita Chankitisakul, Srinuan Kananit, Veeraya Tuntiyasawasdikul, Vatsana Sirisan and Wootichai Kenchaiwong
Animals 2024, 14(24), 3658; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243658 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 682
Abstract
The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and genetic correlations between growth characteristics and purine and uric acid in the breast and liver and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood. The growth characteristics included body weight (BW) at hatching (BW0), [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and genetic correlations between growth characteristics and purine and uric acid in the breast and liver and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood. The growth characteristics included body weight (BW) at hatching (BW0), BW at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age, average daily gain (ADG) at 0–2, 2–4, 4–6, 6–8, and 8–10 weeks of age, and breast circumference at 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age (BrC6, BrC8, and BrC10) were recorded from 300 Thai native chickens (Shee breed). In total, 30 chickens (15 males and 15 females) were randomly euthanized to collect breast meat, liver, and blood samples to determine the purine content. A multiple-trait animal model and an average information-restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) were used to estimate the variance components and genetic parameters. The estimated heritability values for all growth traits were moderate and ranged from 0.304 to 0.485, 0.270 to 0.335, and 0.286 to 0.314 for BW, ADG, and BrC, respectively. The estimated heritability values for various biochemical traits, including purine content, uric acid, and SOD levels, were low to moderate and ranged from 0.035 to 0.143, and 0.050 to 0.213 in breast meat and liver, respectively. In genetic correlations, total purine content showed a strong negative correlation with growth traits, whereas uric acid and SOD levels exhibited varying degrees of correlation with BW and ADG. These results highlight the importance of genetic parameters between growth and biochemical traits in Thai native chickens and provide valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at improving growth performance and meat quality. This study indicated the potential use of heritability values and genetic correlations to enhance selective breeding strategies using the multiple-trait genetic evaluation method for optimal trait combinations in poultry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Breeding Advances in Poultry Health and Production: 2nd Edition)
16 pages, 996 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Genetic Architecture of Semen Traits in Thai Native Roosters: A Comprehensive Analysis Using Random Regression and Spline Function Models
by Iin Mulyawati Daryatmo, Jiraporn Juiputta, Vibuntita Chankitisakul and Wuttigrai Boonkum
Animals 2024, 14(19), 2853; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192853 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 705
Abstract
Improving reproductive traits, particularly semen quality and quantity, is crucial for optimizing poultry production and addressing the current limitations in native chicken reproduction. The aim of this study was to develop a genetic model to estimate genetic parameters guiding the selection of individual [...] Read more.
Improving reproductive traits, particularly semen quality and quantity, is crucial for optimizing poultry production and addressing the current limitations in native chicken reproduction. The aim of this study was to develop a genetic model to estimate genetic parameters guiding the selection of individual Thai native roosters. Using data collected from 3475 records of 242 Thai native grandparent roosters aged 1–4 years, we evaluated semen traits (mass movement, semen volume, and sperm concentration) over 54 weeks. A random regression test–day model incorporating five covariance functions, including a linear spline function with four, five, six, and eight knots (SP4, SP5, SP6, and SP8) and second-order Legendre polynomial function (LG2), was used to estimate genetic parameters. The results showed that the SP8 model consistently outperformed the other models across all traits, with the lowest mean square error, highest coefficient of determination, and superior predictive ability. Heritability estimates for mass movement, semen volume, and sperm concentration ranged from 0.10 to 0.25, 0.22 to 0.25, and 0.11 to 0.24, respectively, indicating moderate genetic influence on these traits. Genetic correlations between semen volume and sperm concentration were highest in the SP8 model, highlighting a strong genetic association between these traits. The SP8 model also revealed a high genetic correlation between mass movement and semen volume, supporting the potential for selecting mass movement as a predictor of semen volume. In conclusion, this study highlights the effectiveness of random regression models with linear spline functions to evaluate the genetic parameters of semen traits in native Thai roosters. The SP8 model is a robust tool for breeders to enhance the reproductive performance of native Thai chickens, contributing to sustainable poultry production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Breeding Advances in Poultry Health and Production: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop