ArticleGenetics, selection, evolution : GSE2021
No evidence that selection for egg production persistency causes loss of bone quality in laying hens.
Article in Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 45 citations in OpenAlex.
- Research note: Genetic background influences the relationship between age at first egg and long-term egg production in layers.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Variation in cranial and caudal keel bone composition and its association with keel damage severity in laying hens.Poultry science · 2026Article
- Polyphenol-functionalized silver nanoparticles promote differential remineralization and reinforcement of demineralized dentin.Journal of applied oral science : revista FOB · 2026Article
- Comparison of keel bone traits, eggshell production, and physiological parameters between a hybrid layer and two low-performing chicken genotypes.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Genetics of digital phenotypes of keel bone in layer chickens and correlations with keel bone fractures and deviations.Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE · 2025Article
- Vitamin DJournal of animal physiology and animal nutrition · 2025Article
- Association of keel bone morphometry with keel bone damage and skeletal quality in the laying hen.British poultry science · 2025Article
- The Gordon Memorial Lecture: genotype, phenotype, selection and more: improving the skeletal health of laying hens.British poultry science · 2025Article
- Comparison of two CT-based methods for tibial bone mineral density assessment and their associations with bone and eggshell traits in laying hens.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
- Understanding the Causes of Keel Bone Damage and Its Effects on the Welfare of Laying Hens.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Review
- Supplemental effect of Pediococcus acidilactici CNCM I-4622 probiotic on the laying characteristics and calcium and phosphorus metabolism in laying hens.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal potential regulatory pathways regulating bone metabolism pre- and postsexual maturity in hens.Poultry science · 2024Article
- Presence of keel bone damage in laying hens, pullets and roosters of local chicken breeds.PloS one · 2024Article
- Comparisons of longitudinal radiographic measures of keel bones, tibiotarsal bones, and pelvic bones versus post-mortem measures of keel bone damage in Bovans Brown laying hens housed in an aviary system.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2024Article
- Fracture morphology and ossification process of the keel bone in modern laying hens based on radiographic imaging.PloS one · 2024Article
- Genetic markers associated with bone composition in Rhode Island Red laying hens.Genetics, selection, evolution : GSE · 2023Article
- Genetics of tibia bone properties of crossbred commercial laying hens in different housing systems.G3 (Bethesda, Md.) · 2023Article
- The Diverse Roles of 17β-Estradiol in Non-Gonadal Tissues and Its Consequential Impact on Reproduction in Laying and Broiler Breeder Hens.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Review
- Keel Bone Damage in Laying Hens-Its Relation to Bone Mineral Density, Body Growth Rate and Laying Performance.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 4 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe physiological adaptations that have evolved for egg laying make hens susceptible to bone fractures and keel bone damage. In modern laying hen breeds, longer periods of egg laying could result in a greater risk of poor bone quality, and selection for increased egg production has frequently been stated to be a cause. However, the existing literature does not support this hypothesis. To test the hypothesis that egg production is associated with quality, breaking strength and density of bone, genetic correlations between these traits were estimated in White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red breeds. Genetic correlations of cortical and medullary bone material chemical properties with bone quality were also estimated, in order to identify methods to improve bone quality with appropriately targeted measurement of key traits.
resultsEstimates of heritability for bone quality traits were moderate (0.19-0.59) for both White Leghorn and Rhode Island Red breeds, except for the keel bone trait, which had a heritability estimate equal to zero. There was no evidence for genetic or phenotypic relationships between post-peak egg production and bone quality. In the White Leghorn breed, the estimate of the genetic correlation between pre-peak production/age at first egg and bone quality was significant and negative (- 0.7 to - 0.4). Estimates of heritability of thermogravimetric measurements of tibial medullary bone mineralisation were significant (0.18-0.41), as were estimates of their genetic correlations with tibia breaking strength and density (0.6-0.9).
conclusionsThe low genetic correlation of post-peak egg production with bone quality suggests that selection for increased persistency of egg production may not adversely affect bone quality. Onset of puberty and mineralisation of the medullary bone, which is a specialised adaptation for egg laying, were identified as important factors associated with the quality of the skeleton later during egg production. These are traits for which genetic, as well as environmental and management factors can positively impact the overall quality of the skeleton of laying hens.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.