Diurnal and seasonal dynamics affecting egg production in meat chickens: A review of mechanisms associated with reproductive dysregulation

Klein, S.; Zuidhof, M. J.; Bédécarrats, Grégoy Y.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106257

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 124 publications

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“…Through divergent breeding goals, selection programs for broiler chickens have largely focussed on rapid offspring growth rate, resulting in poor reproductive efficiency of breeders ( van der Klein et al, 2020 ). In contrast, laying hen selection was primarily based on egg output, with commercial layers more than doubling production over the last 50 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should I Lay or Should I Grow: Photoperiodic Versus Metabolic Cues in Chickens

et al. 2020

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While photoperiod has been generally accepted as the primary if not the exclusive cue to stimulate reproduction in photoperiodic breeders such as the laying hen, current knowledge suggests that metabolism, and/or body composition can also play an influential role to control the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG)-axis. This review thus intends to first describe how photoperiodic and metabolic cues can impact the HPG axis, then explore and propose potential common pathways and mechanisms through which both cues could be integrated. Photostimulation refers to a perceived increase in day-length resulting in the stimulation of the HPG. While photoreceptors are present in the retina of the eye and the pineal gland, it is the deep brain photoreceptors (DBPs) located in the hypothalamus that have been identified as the potential mediators of photostimulation, including melanopsin (OPN4), neuropsin (OPN5), and vertebrate-ancient opsin (VA-Opsin). Here, we present the current state of knowledge surrounding these DBPs, along with their individual and relative importance and, their possible downstream mechanisms of action to initiate the activation of the HPG axis. On the metabolic side, specific attention is placed on the hypothalamic integration of appetite control with the stimulatory (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone; GnRH) and inhibitory (Gonadotropin Inhibitory Hormone; GnIH) neuropeptides involved in the control of the HPG axis. Specifically, the impact of orexigenic peptides agouti-related peptide (AgRP), and neuropeptide Y (NPY), as well as the anorexigenic peptides pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), and cocaine-and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is reviewed. Furthermore, beyond hypothalamic control, several metabolic factors involved in the control of body weight and composition are also presented as possible modulators of reproduction at all three levels of the HPG axis. These include peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) for its impact in liver metabolism during the switch from growth to reproduction, adiponectin as a potential modulator of ovarian development and follicular maturation, as well as growth hormone (GH), and leptin (LEP).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should I Lay or Should I Grow: Photoperiodic Versus Metabolic Cues in Chickens

et al. 2020

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“…Other studies reported similar findings, with a 2.8 d (24% heavier) to 15 d (74% heavier) earlier sexual maturity for heavier breeders ( Renema et al., 2001b , 2007a ; Gous and Cherry, 2004 ; Sun and Coon, 2005 ; Ekmay et al., 2012 ; Van der Klein et al., 2018 ). Sexual maturation depends on physiological cues, such as photorefractory and photosensitivity ( Gous and Cherry, 2004 ; Van der Klein et al., 2018 ; Van Emous et al., 2018 ), but metabolic cues are suggested to play a role as well ( Bédécarrats et al., 2016 ; Hanlon et al., 2020 ; Van der Klein et al., 2020 ). It has been suggested that broiler breeders require a certain protein threshold for sexual maturation ( Sun et al., 2006 ; Eitan et al., 2014 ; Salas et al., 2019 ), whereas others emphasize the presence of a fat threshold for sexual maturation ( Van der Klein et al., 2018 ; Zuidhof, 2018 ; Hadinia et al., 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar findings were observed in other studies, where heavier breeders had a higher number of unsettable eggs ( Renema et al., 2001a ; Gous and Cherry, 2004 ; Sun and Coon, 2005 ; Sun et al., 2006 ). Van der Klein et al. (2020) extensively reviewed mechanisms associated with reproductive dysregulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They suggested that metabolic status and feed allowance affect endocrine (dys)regulation of follicle selection and maturation. However, mechanisms are complex and not yet fully elucidated ( Van der Klein et al., 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A change in body composition might have influenced sexual maturation ( Bédécarrats et al., 2016 ; Hanlon et al., 2020 ; Van der Klein et al., 2020 ). Breeders fed a higher dietary energy-to-protein ratio had a later age at sexual maturity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of growth curve and dietary energy-to-protein ratio on productive performance of broiler breeders

Heijmans

Duijster²,

Gerrits

et al. 2021

Poultry Science

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The impact of growth curve ( GC ) and dietary energy-to-protein ratio on productive performance of broiler breeder females was investigated from 0 to 60 wk of age. One-day-old pullets (n = 1,536) were randomly allotted to 24 pens according to a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, with 2 GC (standard growth curve = SGC or elevated growth curve = EGC , +15%) and 4 diets, differing in energy-to-protein ratio (96%, 100%, 104%, or 108% AME n ). Feed allocation per treatment was adapted weekly based on the desired GC, meaning that breeders fed the different diets within each GC were fed according to a paired-gain strategy. Linear and quadratic contrasts for energy-to-protein ratio for each GC were evaluated. Elevated growth curve breeders had an earlier sexual maturity (∆ = 4.1 d) than SGC breeders. Egg weight was higher for EGC breeders (∆ = 2.3 g) than for SGC breeders over the whole laying phase (22–60 wk). No differences between EGC and SGC breeders were observed on settable egg production. An increase in dietary energy-to-protein, at a similar BW, led to a linear increase in age at sexual maturity (β = 0.14 d/% AME n ). From 22 to 40 wk of age, an increase in dietary energy-to-protein ratio led to a linear decrease in egg weight (β = -0.06 g/% AME n ), regardless of GC. An interaction between GC and dietary energy-to-protein ratio was observed on settable egg production in this phase. An increase in dietary energy-to-protein ratio led to a linear decrease on settable egg production, which was more profound in EGC breeders (β = -0.70 eggs/% AME n ) than in SGC breeders (β = -0.19 eggs/% AME n ). From 41 to 60 wk of age, an interaction between GC and dietary energy-to-protein ratio was observed on egg weight. In the EGC, an increase in dietary energy-to-protein ratio led to a linear decrease in egg weight (β = -0.13 g/% AME n ), whereas in the SGC, a linear increase in egg weight was observed (β = 0.03 g/% AME n ). From 41 to 60 wk of age, no differences between diets were observed on settable egg production. It can be concluded that a higher GC of breeders has beneficial effects on egg weight, while maintaining settable egg production. Feeding breeders a lower dietary energy-to-protein ratio stimulated productive performance of broiler breeder hens, mainly during the first phase of lay. This effect was more profound when breeders were fed according to a higher GC.

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Comparative transcriptomic analysis of ovaries from high and low egg‐laying Lingyun black‐bone chickens

Zhang

Wang

Cong

et al. 2021

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Egg‐laying rate is mainly determined by ovarian function and regulated by the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis; however, the mechanism by which the ovary regulates the egg‐laying rate is still poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in the transcriptomes of the ovary of Lingyun black‐bone chickens with relatively high and low egg‐laying rates and screen candidate genes related to the egg‐laying rate. RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) was conducted to explore the chicken transcriptome from the ovarian tissue of six Lingyun black‐bone chickens with high (group G, n = 3) and low (group D, n = 3) egg‐laying rates. The results showed that 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the chickens with high and low egg‐laying rates; among them, 209 DEGs were up‐regulated and 26 DEGs were down‐regulated. Gene Ontology analysis showed that the up‐regulated 209 DEGs were enriched in 50 GO terms and the down‐regulated 26 DEGs were enriched in 40 GO terms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that up‐regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 25 pathways and down‐regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in three pathways. Among the pathways, we found the longevity regulating pathway‐multiple species pathway, Estrogen signalling pathway and PPAR signalling pathway may have an essential function in regulating the egg‐laying rate. The results highlighted DEGs in the ovarian tissues of relatively high and low laying Lingyun black‐bone chicken and identified essential candidate genes related to the egg‐laying rate, thereby providing a theoretical basis for improving the egg‐laying rate of Lingyun black‐bone chicken.

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Diurnal and seasonal dynamics affecting egg production in meat chickens: A review of mechanisms associated with reproductive dysregulation

Cited by 25 publications

References 124 publications

Should I Lay or Should I Grow: Photoperiodic Versus Metabolic Cues in Chickens

Should I Lay or Should I Grow: Photoperiodic Versus Metabolic Cues in Chickens

Impact of growth curve and dietary energy-to-protein ratio on productive performance of broiler breeders

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of ovaries from high and low egg‐laying Lingyun black‐bone chickens

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