Reproductive Soundness and Egg Quality in Chickens Selected for Low and High Antibody Response

dc.contributor.authorAlbrecht, Heather Nicoleen
dc.contributor.committeechairLewis, Ronald M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSiegel, Paul B.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPierson, Frank Williamen
dc.contributor.departmentAnimal and Poultry Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:43:48Zen
dc.date.adate2011-09-08en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:43:48Zen
dc.date.issued2011-08-11en
dc.date.rdate2011-09-08en
dc.date.sdate2011-08-19en
dc.description.abstractFor 36 generations, White Leghorn chickens were selected for high (HAS) or low (LAS) antibody response to sheep red blood cells. The focus of this thesis was to investigate correlated responses in reproductive soundness and egg quality resulting from that selection. Forty-five hens and 25 roosters from each antibody line were used. In hens, commencement and intensity of lay, and egg quality, were analyzed; in both sexes, length of fertility was considered. Hens and roosters were mated to an intercross line to avoid confounding selection with sex effects. The LAS line was more reproductively sound, commencing lay at a younger age (11.67 ± 3.53 d; P < 0.001), lighter body weight (-169.46 ± 40.20 g; P < 0.001) and with greater intensity (2.68 ± 0.25%; P = 0.001) than the HAS line. Additionally, the LAS line had a greater length of fertility (hens: 2.43 ± 0.55 d; P < 0.001; roosters: 3.11 ± 0.71 d; P < 0.001). In contrast to their poorer reproductive soundness, the HAS line had superior egg quality compared to the LAS line. Egg shape index (4.12 ± 0.55; P < 0.001) and albumen height, measured in both mm (0.27 ± 0.12 mm; P < 0.001) and Haugh units (1.89 ± 0.91; P = 0.04), were superior in HAS hens. Selection for increased antibody response appeared to compromise reproductive soundness, perhaps due to limitations in available resources. However, the selection did not compromise egg quality.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-08192011-145148en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08192011-145148/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/34647en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartAlbrecht_HN_T_2011.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectMycoplasma gallisepticumen
dc.subjectEgg qualityen
dc.subjectReproductive soundnessen
dc.subjectSheep red blood cellsen
dc.titleReproductive Soundness and Egg Quality in Chickens Selected for Low and High Antibody Responseen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineAnimal and Poultry Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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