Divergent selection for shape of growth curve in Japanese quail. 5. Growth pattern and low protein level in starter diet.

1. The effect of crude protein (CP) concentration in starter diet (259 or 216 g CP and 11.7 MJ ME/kg, fed from 0 to 21 d of age) on postnatal growth pattern (from hatching to 70 d of age) was analysed in Japanese quail lines divergently selected for high (HG) and low (LG) relative gain of body weight (BW) between 11 and 28 d of age, and constant BW at 49 d of age. 2. Males and females of both lines fed on the low CP diet showed a transient BW retardation between 7 and 28 d of age, and 7 and 35 d of age, respectively, when compared with their counterparts receiving the standard CP diet. 3. Although the negative effect of low CP concentration on growth rate was observed in both lines, a lower tolerance of young HG vs. LG quail to the reduction of CP level in food was evident from their (i) stronger BW retardation at 14 d of age (16 vs. 7%), (ii) more delayed onset of compensatory growth (21 vs. 7 d of age) and (iii) greater prolongation of the acceleration growth phase (3 vs. 1 d of age) following insufficient dietary CP. 4. The line differences in early growth rate were accompanied by significant differences in food intake. The LG line consumed more food than the HG line on both CP diets and consumption was not influenced by food quality. In contrast, HG quail reduced food intake with the decrease of dietary CP concentration. On both CP diets, this was associated with a higher body fatness of LG vs. HG quail. 5. The protein-deficient food could thus represent an important factor contributing to the selection advantage of developmentally accelerated genotypes during the selection for high BW in young age categories.

Divergent selection for shape of growth curve in Japanese quail. 2. Embryonic development and growth.

1. Embryonic growth and development were analysed using meat type lines of Japanese quail, HG and LG, divergently selected for shape of the growth curve. A total of 1020 embryos of generations 9, 10 or 13 were used for analysis. 2. Considerable inter-line differences were observed in the rate of embryonic development. When compared to HG, LG embryos appeared to be developmentally accelerated during the first 42 h of incubation (larger blastoderm diameter, more somites and higher frequency of more advanced Hamburger-Hamilton stages) as well as at the end of the prenatal period (more embryos with the yolk sac inside the body cavity, shorter incubation period). This corresponded with the trend in postnatal development. 3. Embryonic growth of both lines exhibited an exponential trend. However, considerable inter-line differences were noted in the rate of embryonic growth. Initial growth retardation compensated subsequently by a higher growth rate of HG vs LG quail, characterised the lines after hatching. The same growth pattern repeated three times during the prenatal period (between d 0 and 3, 3 and 8, and 8 and 16). 4. The repeated occurrence of transient decreases in growth rate of the developmentally delayed HG line could be associated with a delayed onset of genetically determined physiological functions mediating utilisation of nutrient supply. 5. Hence, different shapes of growth curves in two genotypes with similar growth potential reveal inter-line differences in physiological age persisting during the whole ontogenesis.

Heterosis in body weight related to growth performance of parental lines of Japanese quail and to heterosis in lay.

1. Three outbred lines of Japanese quail and their reciprocal crosses were used. The lines differed in mature body weight or in the shape of the growth curve. Growth was described by body weight (BW) at 0, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 48, 56, 63 and 70 d of age and expressed by the parameters of Richards' function. Dickerson's model was used to estimate direct genetic, maternal genetic and direct heterotic effects. 2. The magnitude of BW heterosis was not constant during postnatal growth, it showed a different curvilinear age-trend for each hybrid combination. 3. The age-trend of BW heterosis resulted from the change of the shape of the growth curve. 4. The age-trend of BW heterosis and its maximum magnitude were associated with differences in the growth pattern of parental lines. 5. The heterosis at the inflection point was accompanied by heterosis in egg number.

Divergent selection for shape of growth curve in Japanese quail. 1. Responses in growth parameters and food conversion.

1. HG and LG quail lines selected for high and low relative weight gain between 11 and 28 d of age (RG11-28), respectively, and an unselected C line were compared. Mature body weight of both selected lines was held at that of the C line. Progeny of generation 6 were used for analysis. 2. Divergent selection for RG11-28 brought about opposite changes in the growth rates shortly after hatching. 3. Parameters of the Richards function were used to describe the growth curve. The largest differences between HG and LG lines occurred in age (t+) and body weight (y+) at the inflection point of the growth curve (on average for both sexes 28% and 20%, respectively). For HG quail, the parameter t+ was 5 d later than that for LG quail (18.6 vs 14.1 d for males and 20.6 vs 15.6 d for females, respectively), and consequently the parameter y+ was greater (90.3 vs 84.0 g for males and 104.5 vs 96.1 g for females, respectively). The shape of the growth curve expressed by the y+/A ratio was substantialy different for HG and LG quail (44.8% vs 39.6% for males and 43.5% vs 36.8% for females, respectively). 4. The food/gain ratios for the fattening period (3 to 35 d of age) were 3.21, 3.47 and 3.34 for the HG, LG and C lines, respectively. The HG quail started to utilise food more efficiently than the LG quail as early as 10 to 14 d, that is, at the age when their relative growth rate first became greater. 5. The relative deviations of the HG and LG lines from the C line are discussed.

Responses in growth, food intake and food conversion efficiency to different dietary protein concentrations in meat-type lines of Japanese quail.

1. A total of 360 Japanese quail of 4 commercial meat-type lines and two diet treatments (260 and 216 g/kg or 238 and 195 g/kg of crude protein (CP) in the starter and grower diet, respectively) were used. 2. The positive effect of a high CP diet on body weight was significant only for the first 4 weeks after hatching. 3. The mean age at inflection point of the growth curve (t+) across lines and sexes was 1.4 d (0.6 to 2.8 d within line/sex groups) earlier for quail fed on a high CP diet than in quail receiving a low CP diet. The inflection (y+) and asymptotic (A) weights were similar under both dietary protein concentrations. Nevertheless, the shape of the growth curve, characterised by the ratio y+/A and parameter of the maturing rate k, was significantly influenced by diet. 4. A higher food intake and less efficient food conversion were found for quail fed on a high CP diet in the period from 15 to 28 d of age. 5. The fattening traits such as body weight, cumulative food intake and food conversion, were not affected by dietary CP content at the age of 5 weeks. 6. The effects of line on body weight, food intake and food conversion are discussed.

Analysis of growth curves of fowl. III. Geese.

1. Growth curves of two lines (S,D) and their reciprocal hybrids (in total,. n = 344) were evaluated by the Richards function. Geese were weighed at 7 d intervals to the ninth week, and then at 92, 154, 192 and 217 d of age. Food and water were supplied ad libitum. 2. The accuracy of curve fit measured by the coefficient of determination (R2) for different genetic groups ranged from 0.9840 to 0.9918. The highest percentage deviations between observed and estimated live weights were recorded at hatching (on average 15.1%), while at the others points of curve they were significantly lower (from 0.6 to 6.8%). 3. The geese are characterised by an early maturing rate. The peak of the absolute growth rate (the inflection point of the curve) occurred at 18.7 to 23.5 d of age (t+). The degree of maturity at a slaughter age of 63 d (u63 = y63/A) ranged from 0.69 to 0.76. Fitting the inflection point at the beginning of the linear growth phase significantly affects the maturing rate (k) and the ratio between the inflection (y+) and the asymptotic (A) weights. The values of these correlated parameters were very low (y+/A = 0.233 to 0.294, k = 0.0281 to 0.0373 ln theta/d). 4. The live weights of geese from 28 d of age and the parameters of the Richards function were significantly higher (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in th sire line (S) than in the dam line (D). A low negative heterosis was observed at all points of the growth curves (-0.01 to -9.7%). The results indicated the effect of sex-linked growth genes. 5. The phenotypic correlations between parameters of the Richards function within genetic groups are discussed.

Crossbreeding effects for body weight and carcase traits in Pekin duck.

1. Three sire lines of Pekin duck, three dam lines and 9 crosses between these two groups were tested in replicated tests from 1987 to 1991. Body weight at the age of 7 weeks (n = 5189), carcase percentage, percentage of abdominal fat and thickness of breast muscles were recorded (n = 1432 for carcase traits). 2. The data were analysed by linear models. All models contained the factors test and sex. When analysing only crosses, general and specific combining abilities (GCA and SCA respectively) were included as well as their interactions with the test. Using the complete data set (lines and crosses), direct genetic and heterotic effects were considered. 3. The factors test and sex were significant in both data sets for all traits. 4. For body weight, all genetic factors were significant. The average heterosis was 65 g +/- 9 g (2.2%); the highest observed heterosis was 7.7%. 5. For carcase percentage, the heterosis was always negative (up to -2.1%), whereas in abdominal fat, a desirable negative heterosis was observed only in one cross. No significant heterotic or combining ability effects were observed in the thickness of breast muscles. 6. Significant interactions between at least one genetic factor and test were found in all traits. 7. The relative importance of GCA and SCA, possible sources of confounding estimates of genetic effects, the importance of heterotic effects and genotype x environment interactions are discussed.

Effects of the sex-linked dwarf gene (dw) on skeletal muscle cellularity in broiler chickens.

1. The number and size of muscle fibres and the DNA concentration in m. pectoralis superficialis of normal (Dw+/-) and dwarf (dw/-) White Plymouth Rock females were investigated at the ages of 9 and 52 weeks. 2. Live weight and total meat was reduced by 37.4 and 42.8% in dw/- as compared with Dw+/- females at the age of 9 weeks. The suppressive effect of the dwarf allele on the weight of m. pectoralis superficialis was 40.6% (67.8 v. 40.3 g in Dw+/- and dw/- genotypes). This reduction in weight was accompanied by a similar decrease of DNA content (28.8 v. 17.1 mg, i.e. 40.6%), a decrease in number of muscle fibres (829 x 10(3) v. 654 x 10(3), i.e. 21.2%) and fibre diameter (30.80 v. 28.95 microns, i.e. 6.0%). In mature hens, the differences between genotypes Dw+/- and dw/- were slightly smaller. 3. The different relationships between the muscle growth traits studied are discussed.

Analysis of growth curves of fowl. I. Chickens.

1. The Richards function was used to describe the growth curves (n = 989) of 9 broiler lines. Chickens were fed ad libitum and body weight was recorded every second week from hatching to 26 weeks of age. 2. The accuracy of curve fit measured by the coefficient of determination (R2) was better for males than for females (0.9986-0.9995 vs 0.9972-0.9988, respectively). 3. The estimation of the asymptotic final weight (A) for different lines enabled the degree of maturity (ut = yt/A) to be determined at any fixed point of the curve. At the age of 7 weeks this had a value of 0.318-0.369 for cockerels and 0.325-0.377 for pullets and represented the slaughter maturity of individual lines. The ratio of inflection/asymptotic weight (y+/A = 0.370-0.388) indicated that in some cases chicken growth can be described approximately by the Gompertz function (y+/A = 0.368). 4. It was found that the age at the inflection point of curves (t+ 48.2-55.7 d for cockerels and t+ = 47.8-52.8 d for pullets) roughly corresponds to the slaughter age of the chickens. 5. The interline differences in the parameters of maturation rate for weight (y+/A, k, t+, u7) are low in comparison with the differences in body weight (A, y+, y7) and absolute growth rate (v, v+). 6. The intragroup phenotypic correlation among growth parameters and the importance of the mathematical models are discussed.

Analysis of growth curves of fowl. II. Ducks.

1. Growth curves of nine selected lines and one random-bred control population (in total, n = 1070) were evaluated by the Richards function. The ducks were weighed at 7-d intervals and, after the tenth week, every second week (up to 18 weeks). Food and water were supplied ad libitum. 2. The predicted curves closely fitted the weight data points (R2 = 0.9991-0.9997). 3. The ducks are characterized by early maturity rate. The peak of the absolute growth rate (the inflection point of the curve) occurred at 24.1-27.6 d of age (t+). A higher ratio of the inflection to the asymptotic weights (y+/A = 0.380-0.424) was found in comparison to those from the Gompertz-type function of growth (y+/A = 0.368). 4. In the selected lines the degree of maturity at a slaughter age of 7 weeks (u7 = y7/A) ranged from 0.784 to 0.835 for males and from 0.819 to 0.889 for females. 5. Ducks within the non-selected control line had a significantly lower maturing rate than the selected lines. 6. Sexual dimorphism was recorded for all growth parameters analysed. Females have faster maturation rate than males (higher values of y+/A, u7, k and a shorter auto-acceleration phase of growth). 7. High interline differences were found for body weight (A, y+, y7) and for absolute growth rate (v, v+) and smaller ones for parameters of the maturation rate (y+/A, u7, k and t+). 8. The intragroup phenotype correlation between growth parameters and the use of weight data only up to 7 weeks of age for the estimation of parameters of the Richards function are discussed.

Histochemical fiber types in the thigh muscles of 4 chicken inbred lines.

Distribution, frequency and diameter of fiber types were ascertained in the thigh muscles of I, C, W and M chicken inbred lines. The iliotibialis posterior muscle is composed of FOG and FG types uniformly distributed over the whole muscle cross-section. Three fiber types are demonstrated in the sartorius and semimembranosus muscles. In the superficial regions, the FOG and FG types are present only. Avian SO type appears down into the depth of the muscles. The frequency of this type and FOG type gradually increases in this direction whereas the proportion of FG type decreases. Semimembranosus muscle shows generally higher percentage of FOG fibers and lower frequency of remaining two types. Differences between inbred lines in fiber type frequencies are mostly insignificant. However, the M line with the highest live and muscle weights shows larger fiber diameter of FG and FOG types than I, C and W lines.