Evaluation of growth performance on family breeding of the Leizhou Black Duck: A preliminary study

Abstract

This study determined the growth performance, correlations of linear body dimensions, slaughter performance and the fitting model of two generations of Leizhou Black Ducks. Fifteen (15) male and 225 female parents forming generation 0 were selected from the Leizhou duck population. Fifteen (15) families were created in the ratio of 1 male:15 females. Eggs from all the families were collected and numbered according to the family. Generation 1 ducklings were selected and grouped into families in the same ratio. Body weights (BWs) and linear body dimensions were recorded every 2 weeks from weeks 0 to 16. Logistic, Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy models were employed to ascertain the growth model of both sexes of Leizhou Black Ducks. Except for weeks 0–2, generation 1 families had greater BWs than the generation 0 families ( p < .05). Males from both generations had significantly higher ( p < .01) BWs than females at 16 weeks old. Significant positive correlations were observed between BWs and measured body dimensions for both sexes except for between BW and pelvis width (PW) where negative correlations ( p > .05) were observed for males at week 10 and females at 16 weeks old. There was a significant negative correlation ( p < .01) between body length and PW in males at 10 weeks. The accuracy rate of Logistic, Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy models was at 0.972 and similar was obtained by all three models with Von Bertalanffy being the best model. Live weight of generation 1 before slaughter was significantly higher ( p < .01) than generation 0, whereas no significant differences were seen in the other carcass traits. These findings provide insights into breeding Leizhou Black Duck to enhance growth performance and hybrid production.

Polymorphism analysis and expression profile of the estrogen receptor 2 gene in Leizhou black duck

“…Genetic diversity is an ideal genetic material for a high-quality local duck population to improve meat and egg performance and environmental adaptability. So far, there have been many reports on the research of Leizhou black duck ( Meng et al, 2013 , 2014a , b ; Tang et al, 2013 ; Asiamah et al, 2020 ; Lu et al, 2020 ; Zou et al, 2019 , 2020 ). However, no study has focused on the polymorphism of ESR2 and its association with egg-laying traits and the expression profile of ESR2 in various tissues in Leizhou black ducks.…”

Polymorphism Analysis and Expression Profile of the Estrogen Receptor 2 Gene in Leizhou Black Duck

“…All the ducks lived under the same housing, management, and feeding conditions as described in our previous work (41). The selected laying Leizhou black ducks were housed individually in pens and egg-laying traits which included age at first egg (AFE), egg production rate of 50% ducks; bodyweight at first egg (BWFE), the weight of ducks at first egg; first egg weight (FEW), the weight of the first eggs laid, and egg number at 43 weeks (E43W), number of eggs laid from the beginning to the end of 43 weeks were measured to use for marker-trait association analysis.…”

“…As a high-quality local duck population, genetic diversity is an excellent genetic material to improve meat and egg performance and environmental adaptability. So far, there have been many reports on the research of Leizhou black duck (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44), however, no study has focused on the polymorphism of ESR2 and its association with egg-laying traits and the expression profile of ESR2 in various tissues in Leizhou black ducks.…”

Immunohistochemistry and Expression Profile of Estrogen Receptor 2 Gene in Different Grade Size Ovarian Follicles of Leizhou Black Ducks

“…To evaluate the expression pattern of ESR2 in the follicles of laying Leizhou black ducks, seven (7) different grade-sized follicles were selected from the ducks and detected by RT-qPCR. The results showed that ESR2 was expressed in all tissues (Figure 4).…”

“…Leizhou black duck is an egg-type duck breed known to have excellent egg production and quality traits enriched in nutrients and trace elements (1,2). As a high-quality local duck breed, much research has been done to improve its meat and egg performance and environmental adaptability (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9).…”