Range and confinement rearing of four genetic lines of turkeys. 1. Effects on growth, mortality, and walking ability.
Line by environment interactions complicate interpretation of results from long-term selection experiments. To investigate the potential effects of such interactions, a study was conducted in which birds from four genetic lines were reared in two environments. Birds from four turkey lines were brooded in confinement housing. At 8 wk of age, half of the birds from each full-sib family were moved to a large range pen and the remainder were placed in a large confinement pen. Significant line by environment interactions were present only for walking ability scores of males. A general lack of significant line by environment interactions indicates that rearing environment of these lines may be altered without affecting interpretation of results from a selection experiment. In addition, the current randombred control lines continue to adequately serve as control populations for a long-term selection experiment.
Noble
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Department of Animal Sciences, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the Ohio State University Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA.
Nester
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Polley
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D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal / Q000592:standards*; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014422:Turkeys / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*