Czech J. Anim. Sci., 2019, 64(5):216-225 | DOI: 10.17221/221/2018-CJAS

Laying performance, immune response and antioxidant properties of hens segregating for naked neck and frizzle genes under low ambient temperatureOriginal Paper

Moataz Fathi*,1,2, Ibrahim Al-Homidan1, Gamal Rayan2,3, Salah El-Safty2, Tarek Ebeid1,4, Osama Abou-Emera1,5
1 Department of Animal Production and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
3 College of Agricultural Sciences and Food, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
4 Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt
5 Agriculture Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Giza, Egypt

Major genes could be introgressed into laying hens to attenuate heat stress. However, under cold and/or moderate ambient temperature, these genes might possess different behaviour. The main objective of this study was to evaluate laying performance, immune response, and antioxidant status of native laying hens segregating for naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) genes under low ambient temperature. Five genotypes were studied: homozygous naked neck (NaNaff), heterozygous naked neck (Nanaff), homozygous frizzle (nanaFF), heterozygous frizzle (nanaFf), and normally feathered (nanaff). The hens were raised under temperature range 22.2-16.7°C. No adverse effect due to ambient temperature was detected in laying performance for naked neck genotypes. Significant decrease in egg weight was recorded in nanaFF genotype compared to the other genotypes leading to significant decrease in egg mass. Significant improvement in shell thickness was associated with Na and F genes. NaNaff genotype had a significantly higher eggshell strength compared to nanaff. Furthermore, Na and F genes improved cellular mediated immune responsiveness, whereas this improvement did not extend to humoral immunity. Birds carrying F gene in homozygous state had a higher total antioxidant activity compared to the remaining genotypes. It could be concluded that the presence of Na and F genes in laying hens raised under low ambient temperature significantly increased shell thickness and, in turn, improved shell strength. Moreover, they greatly enhanced cellular immunity, particularly in heterozygous naked neck status.

Keywords: laying hens; naked neck gene; frizzle gene; immunocompetence; low temperature

Published: May 31, 2019  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Fathi M, Al-Homidan I, Rayan G, El-Safty S, Ebeid T, Abou-Emera O. Laying performance, immune response and antioxidant properties of hens segregating for naked neck and frizzle genes under low ambient temperature. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 2019;64(5):216-225. doi: 10.17221/221/2018-CJAS.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Abdel-Rahman A.M. (1990): Significance of some major genes in relation to the productive adaptability of four German sub-lines compared with local Egyptian chickens under Assiut subtropical conditions. Ph.D. Thesis, Assiut University, Egypt.
    2. Adomako K., Olympio O.S., Hagan J.K., Hamidu J.A. (2014): Effect of the frizzle gene (F) on egg production and egg quality of laying hens kept in tropical villages. British Poultry Science, 55, 709-714. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    3. Almeida A.M., Zuber U. (2010): The effect of the Naked Neck genotype (Nana), feeding and outdoor rearing on growth and carcass characteristics of free range broilers in a hot climate. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42, 99-107. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    4. Alvarez M.T., Carrasco E., Tato P., Tellez G. (2002): Comparison of production parameters and egg quality between laying hens indigenous naked neck (Na) and commercial Babcock B-380. In: Proc. 91st Poultry Science Annu. Mtg., Newark, USA.
    5. Alvarez M.T., Ledesma N., Tellez G., Molinari J.L., Tato P. (2003): Comparison of the immune response against Salmonella enteric serovar Gallinarum infection between naked neck chickens and a commercial chicken line. Avian Pathology, 32, 193-203. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Alves F.M.S., Felix G.A., Almeida Paz I.C.L., Naas I.A., Souza G.M., Caldara F.R., Garcia R.G. (2012): Impact of exposure to cold on layer production. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 14, 159-232. Go to original source...
    7. Bordas A., Tixier-Boichard M., Merat P. (1992): Direct and correlated responses to divergent selection for residual food intake in Rhode Island Red laying hens. British Poultry Science, 33, 741-754. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    8. Cahaner A., Ajuh J.A., Siegmund-Schultze M., Azoulay Y., Druyan S., Valle Zarate A. (2008): Effects of the genetically reduced feather coverage in naked neck and featherless broilers on their performance under hot conditions. Poultry Science, 87, 2517-2527. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Chen C.F., Bordas A., Tixier-Boichard M. (2002): Effect of high ambient temperature and naked neck genotype on egg production in purebred and crossbred dwarf brownegg layers selected for improved clutch length. In: Proc. 7th World Congress Genetics Applied Livestock Production, Montpellier, France. (CD-ROM communication No. 18-08)
    10. Chen C.F., Bordas A., Gourichon D., Tixier-Boichard M. (2004): Effect of high ambient temperature and naked neck genotype on performance of dwarf brown-egg layers selected for improved clutch length. British Poultry Science, 45, 346-354. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Chen C.F., Gourichon D., Huang N.Z., Lee Y.P., Bordas A., Tixier-Boichard M. (2009): Performance comparison of dwarf laying hens segregating for the naked neck gene in temperate and subtropical environments. Genetics Selection Evolution, 41, 13. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    12. Deeb N., Cahaner A. (1999): The effect of naked neck genotypes, ambient temperature and feeding status and their interaction on body temperature and performance of broilers. Poultry Science, 78, 1341-1346. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    13. El-Safty S.A., Ali U.M., Fathi M.M. (2006): Immunological parameters and laying performance of naked neck and normally feathered genotypes of chickens under winter conditions of Egypt. International Journal of Poultry Science, 5, 780-785. Go to original source...
    14. Fathi M.M., Galal A., El-Safty S.A., Abdel-Fattah S.A. (2005): Impact of naked neck and frizzle genes on cellmediated immunity of chickens. Egyptian Poultry Science Journal, 25, 1055-1067.
    15. Fathi M.M., El-Attar A.H., Ali U.M., Nazmi A. (2008): Effect of naked neck gene on carcass composition and immunocompetence in chicken. British Poultry Science, 49, 103-110. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    16. Fathi M.M., Galal A., El-Safty S., Mahrous M. (2013): Naked neck and frizzle genes for improving chickens raised under high ambient temperature: I. growth performance and egg production. World's Poultry Science Journal, 69, 813-832. Go to original source...
    17. Fathi M.M., Galal A., El-Safty S., Mahrous M. (2014): Naked neck and frizzle genes for improving chickens raised under high ambient temperature: II. Blood parameters and immunity. World's Poultry Science Journal, 70, 165-172. Go to original source...
    18. Fathi M.M., Ebeid T.A., Rayan G.N., El-Safty S.A., AbouEmera O.K. (2018): Genetic differences in eggshell ultrastructural properties of Saudi native chicken breeds kept at high ambient temperatures. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 63, 363-370. Go to original source...
    19. Galal A. (1995): Effect of naked neck gene on growth and other productive traits of chicken under hot climatic conditions. M.Sc. Thesis, Ain Shams University, Egypt.
    20. Galal A. (2008): Immunocompetence and some heamatological parameters of naked neck and normally feathered chicken. Journal of Poultry Science, 45, 89-95. Go to original source...
    21. Galal A., Fathi M.M. (2002): Introducing crest gene to enhance productive performance of naked neck chickens under moderate ambient temperatures. Egyptian Poultry Science Journal, 22, 611-628.
    22. Haunshi S., Sharma D., Nayal L.M.S., Singh D.P., Singh R.V. (2002): Effect of naked neck (Na) and frizzle gene (F) on immune competence in chickens. British Poultry Science, 43, 28-32. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    23. Kundu A., Singh D.P., Mohapatra S.C., Dash B.B., Moudgal R.P., Bisht G.S. (1999): Antibody response to sheep erythrocytes in Indian native vis-à-vis imported breeds of chickens. British Poultry Science, 40, 40-43. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Ledvinka Z., Zita L., Hubeny M., Tumova E., Tyller M., Dobrovolny P., Hruska M. (2011): Effect of genotype, age of hens and K/k allele on eggshell quality. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 56, 242-249. Go to original source...
    25. Mahrous M.Y., El-Dlebshany A.E.M. (2011): Reduction of the cholesterol content of eggs by introducing naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) genes in laying hens. Egyptian Poultry Science Journal, 31, 817-824.
    26. Mahrous M.Y., Galal A., Fathi M.M., Zein El-Dein A. (2003): Improving productivity of layer chickens in hot environmental condition by introducing naked neck and frizzled genes. Egyptian Poultry Science Journal, 23, 393-408.
    27. Mahrous M.Y., Galal A., Fathi M.M., Zein El-Dein A. (2008): Impact of naked neck (Na) and frizzle (F) genes on growth performance and immunocompetence in chickens. International Journal of Poultry Science, 7, 45-54. Go to original source...
    28. Missohou A., Dieng A., Horst P., Zarate V.A., Nesseim T., Tchedre K. (2003): Effect of dwarf (dw) and frizzle (F) genes on the performance of layers under Senegalese conditions. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 35, 373-380. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    29. Monnet L.E., Bordas A., Merat P. (1979): Effect of naked neck gene on growth performance at high ambient tem
    30. Rajkumar U., Rajaravindra K.S., Niranjan M., Reddy B.L.N., Bhattacharya T.K., Chatterjee R.N., Sharma R.P. (2010): Evaluation of naked neck broiler genotypes under tropical environment. Indian Journal of Animal Science, 80, 463-466.
    31. Rajkumar U., Reddy M.R., Rama Rao S.V., Radhika K., Shanmugam M. (2011): Evaluation of growth, carcass, immune response and stress parameters in naked neck chicken and their normal siblings under tropical winter and summer temperatures. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 24, 509-516. Go to original source...
    32. Nwachukwu E.N., Ogbu C.C. (2015): Effect of feathering genes and mating pattern on short term egg production and egg quality traits of upgraded native chickens. Global Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, 3, 110-116.
    33. Patra B.N., Bais R.K.S., Prasad R.B., Singh B.P. (2002): Performance of naked neck (Na) versus normally feathered colour broilers for growth, carcass traits and blood biochemical parameters in tropical climate. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 15, 1776-1783. Go to original source...
    34. Patra B.N., Bais R.K.S., Sharma D., Singh B.P., Prasad R.B., Bhushan R. (2004): Immunocompetence status of white plumage naked neck versus normally feathered broilers in tropical climate. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 17, 560-563. Go to original source...
    35. Peters S.O., Gunn H.H., Imumorin I.G., Agaviezor B.O., Ikeobi C.O.N. (2011): Haematological studies on frizzled and naked neck genotypes of Nigerian native chickens. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 3, 631-638. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    36. Rajani J., Karimi Torshizi M.A., Rahimi S.H. (2011): Control of ascites mortality and improved performance and meat shelf-life in broilers using feed adjuncts with presumed antioxidant activity. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 170, 239-245. Go to original source...
    37. Guru Vishnu P. (2015): Phenotypic characterization of Indian naked neck chicken under tropical climatic conditions. Asian Journal of Animal Veterinary Advances, 10, 527-536. Go to original source...
    38. Sharifi A.R., Horst P., Simianer H. (2010): The effect of naked neck gene and ambient temperature and their interaction on reproductive traits of heavy broiler dams. Poultry Science, 89, 1360-1371. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    39. Singh C.V., Kummer D., Singh Y.P. (2001): Potential usefulness of the plumage reducing Naked Neck (Na) gene in poultry production at normal and high ambient temperatures. World's Poultry Science Journal, 57, 139-156. Go to original source...
    40. Tumova E., Englmaierova M., Ledvinka Z., Charvatova V. (2011): Interaction between housing system and genotype in relation to internal and external egg quality parameters. Czech Journal of Animal Science, 56, 490-498. Go to original source...
    41. Yang X., Luo Y.H., Zeng Q.F., Zhang K.Y., Ding X.M., Bai S.P., Wang J.P. (2014): Effects of low ambient temperatures and dietary vitamin C supplement on growth performance, blood parameters, and antioxidant capacity of 21-day-old broilers. Poultry Science, 93, 898-905. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    42. Zerjal T., Gourichon D., Rivet B., Bordas A. (2013): Performance comparison of laying hens segregating for the frizzle gene under thermoneutral and high ambient temperatures. Poultry Science, 92, 1474-1485. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content