Genetic basis of leg health and its relationship with body weight in purebred turkey lines.
The aims of this study were to estimate the genetic parameters for leg and foot health and mobility in purebred turkey lines and their genetic correlations with BW. Traits were gait score (GS) as an overall measure of leg health, footpad dermatitis (FPD), and 2 skeletal leg health traits, namely, valgus and varus deformities (VVD) and tibial dyschondroplasia (TD). Data from 4 different lines, comprising 3 yr of phenotypic records and 4 yr of pedigree information per line, were used. The sex average BW for the lines at 18 wk ranged from 19.1 kg (line A) to 12.4 kg (line D). The prevalence of VVD ranged from 5.2 to 14.6% and for TD from 4.1 to 23.2%. The average score for FPD on a scale of 0 to 100 ranged from 48.5 to 61.1. Gait Score was scored on a scale of 1 to 5, standardized to a mean of 3 and SD of 1. Heritabilities were estimated at 0.08 to 0.13 for GS, 0.01 to 0.07 for VVD, 0.06 to 0.12 for TD, and 0.10 to 0.15 for FPD (all SE ≤ 0.02). Estimates of the genetic correlations between VVD and TD ranged from 0.03 to 0.21 (all SE ≤ 0.08), and estimates of these with GS ranged from 0.07 to 0.87 (all SE ≤ 0.09). The genetic correlations of FPD with GS ranged from 0.00 to 0.34 (all SE ≤ 0.04), and with the skeletal leg health traits from -0.06 to 0.33 (all SE ≤ 0.06). Body weight showed estimated genetic correlations ranging from 0.28 to 0.51 (all SE ≤ 0.06) with GS, -0.06 to 0.50 (all SE ≤ 0.13) with VVD/TD and 0.05 to 0.34 (all SE ≤ 0.05) with FPD. The results suggest that selection for improved leg health can be incorporated effectively in a commercial turkey breeding program using balanced breeding goals, in which production traits and leg health traits are considered simultaneously.
Aviagen Ltd, Newbridge, Midlothian EH28 8SZ, UK.
D N R G
DNRG
Kapell
The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
P M
PM
Hocking
Aviagen Turkeys Inc., Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901.
P K
PK
Glover
Aviagen Turkeys Ltd, Tattenhall, Cheshire CH3 9GA, UK.
V D
VD
Kremer
Aviagen Ltd, Newbridge, Midlothian EH28 8SZ, UK.
S
S
Avendaño
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D017760:Bone Malalignment / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001947:Breeding; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014422:Turkeys / Q000235:genetics*
genetic correlation; heritability; leg health; turkey; welfare