ArticleGenetics, selection, evolution : GSE2014
Plumage condition in laying hens: genetic parameters for direct and indirect effects in two purebred layer lines.
Article in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.
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12 citing papers in PubMed, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Indirect genetic effects increase the heritable variation available to selection and are largest for behaviors: a meta-analysis.Evolution letters · 2025Article
- Towards genetic improvement of social behaviours in livestock using large-scale sensor data: data simulation and genetic analysis.Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE · 2023Article
- Welfare issues and potential solutions for laying hens in free range and organic production systems: A review based on literature and interviews.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2022Review
- Genetic Parameter Estimation and Whole Sequencing Analysis of the Genetic Architecture of Chicken Keel Bending.Frontiers in genetics · 2022Article
- Comparison of Changes in the Plumage and Body Condition, Egg Production, and Mortality of Different Non-Beak-Trimmed Pure Line Laying Hens during the Egg-Laying Period.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
- The Effect of the Type of Non-Caged Housing System, Genotype and Age on the Behaviour of Laying Hens.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2020Article
- The Genetic Architecture of the Chickens Dropping Moisture by Genetic Parameter Estimation and Genome-Wide Association.Frontiers in genetics · 2020Article
- Review of Sensor Technologies in Animal Breeding: Phenotyping Behaviors of Laying Hens to Select Against Feather Pecking.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2019Review
- The genetic architecture of socially-affected traits: a GWAS for direct and indirect genetic effects on survival time in laying hens showing cannibalism.Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE · 2018Article
- Conservation of social effects (ΨEcology and evolution · 2017Article
- Genetic Variation in the Social Environment Contributes to Health and Disease.PLoS genetics · 2017Article
- The prospects of selection for social genetic effects to improve welfare and productivity in livestock.Frontiers in genetics · 2014Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFeather pecking is a major welfare issue in laying hen industry that leads to mortality. Due to a ban on conventional cages in the EU and on beak trimming in some countries of the EU, feather pecking will become an even bigger problem. Its severity depends both on the victim receiving pecking and on its group mates inflicting pecking (indirect effects), which together determine plumage condition of the victim. Plumage condition may depend, therefore, on both the direct genetic effect of an individual itself and on the indirect genetic effects of its group mates. Here, we present estimated genetic parameters for direct and indirect effects on plumage condition of different body regions in two purebred layer lines, and estimates of genetic correlations between body regions.
methodsFeather condition scores (FCS) were recorded at 40 weeks of age for neck, back, rump and belly and these four scores were added-up into a total FCS. A classical animal model and a direct-indirect effects model were used to estimate genetic parameters for FCS. In addition, a bivariate model with mortality (0/1) was used to account for mortality before recording FCS. Due to mortality during the first 23 weeks of laying, 5363 (for W1) and 5089 (for WB) FCS records were available.
resultsTotal heritable variance for FCS ranged from 1.5% to 9.8% and from 9.8% to 53.6% when estimated respectively with the classical animal and the direct-indirect effects model. The direct-indirect effects model had a significantly higher likelihood. In both lines, 70% to 94% of the estimated total heritable variation in FCS was due to indirect effects. Using bivariate analysis of FCS and mortality did not affect estimates of genetic parameters. Genetic correlations were high between adjacent regions for FCS on neck, back, and rump but moderate to low for belly with other regions.
conclusionOur results show that 70% to 94% of the heritable variation in FCS relates to indirect effects, indicating that methods of genetic selection that include indirect genetic effects offer perspectives to improve plumage condition in laying hens. This, in turn could reduce a major welfare problem.
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