Development of a New Synthetic Korean Native Chicken Breed using the Diallel Cross-Mating Test

Abstract

We conducted a 4 × 4 diallel cross-mating test using 934 chickens from four grandparent stock lines to develop a new synthetic breed of Korean native chicken. The mean values, combining ability, and reciprocal effects on survival rate, body weight, and hen-day egg production were analyzed. In phenotypes, most chickens have yellowish-brown, reddish-brown and mixed color feathers. The average survival rate was 86.8±12.3%, with the highest in YH combination. Specific combining ability (SCA) had a greater effect on survival rate than general combining ability (GCA), and the SCA of HY combination was the highest. The 16 cross-combinations were distinctly divided into three weight groups according to their genetic characteristics. At 12 weeks of age, GCA showed a greater effect on weight than SCA, and the SCA of FH combination was the highest. The age at first egg laying was 157 days, and the crosses reached sexual maturity faster than the pure lines. The egg production rate was highest in SY at 79.5±2.1%. The GCA and SCA for hen-day egg production were similar, and the SCA was highest in the HS and FY combinations. The reciprocal effect showed that the offspring's egg production rate was high when S and Y were maternal parents in almost all combinations. In conclusion, FH and HF combinations, which have excellent growth performance, are the most desirable paternal parent stock strains, and FY, FS, HY, and SY combinations, which have excellent laying performance with moderate weight, are the preferred maternal strains.

Production of a New Synthetic Korean Native Commercial Layer Using Crossbreeding among Native Chicken Breeders

“…닭의 산란능력 개량을 위한 육종방법으로 크게 선발과 교배가 있 는데, 우선 교잡을 통해 생산능력이 우수한 조합을 선정하 고 이들의 종계 집단을 개량 선발하는 것이 보편적인 육종 방법이다. 따라서 닭의 육종을 위한 교배 방법 중 잡종교배 법을 가장 널리 이용하고 있고, 더불어 최적의 교배 조합을 찾기 위해 결합능력(combining ability)을 효과적으로 이용하 고 있다 (Razuki and Al-Shaheen, 2011;Choi et al, 2017;Ahmed et al, 2020;Isa et al, 2020;Sohn et al, 2021). 국립 축산과학원은 토종닭의 산란능력을 개량하고자 재래토종닭 5계통과 토착로드종을 이용하여 이들 간의 이원 및 삼원 교 배조합 시험을 시행한 결과, 교잡에 따른 개량의 효과는 현 저하게 나타났으나, 교배조합 간 능력의 차이는 거의 없는 것으로 보고하였다 (Kang et al, 2011;Kim et al, 2012).…”