Genetic improvement For Alternative Hen-Housing Dr. Neil O Sullivan Hy-Line International 2015 Egg Industry Issues Forum Hy-Line International Genetic Excellence
! The Decision Process used in Breeding Hens! The Traits measured in Egg Layers! Evaluation of Hen Performance in Different Environments! Impact of New Technology on Breeding! Summary Contents Hy-Line International
75 Years of Genetic Progress in Egg Production 300 Measured in Egg/Hen to 60 Weeks 250 200 150 100 Hy- Line Founded Index Selec<on Bloodtype Selec<on Feather Sexing LL Eradicated BLUP Selec<on Marker Assisted Selec<on Genomic Selec<on 50 0 1936 1941 1946 1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011
! Inputs: The Decision Process! Evaluation of pedigreed stock in single bird cages and in family group floor pens on Research farms! Evaluation of sire progeny groups (families) in commercial production environments - cage and cage-free! SNP data (molecular markers) on genotypes are used for genomic selection to enhance traditional selection methods Hy-Line International
Welfare of Hens by Production Systems Other measures of welfare, feather cover, comb wounds, and bumblefoot incidence will change the ranking of the systems. R A Croxall & H.A. Elson, Bri. Poul. Sci. Abstracts 2007 Hy-Line International
What do hens do with their time? Sandihands et al (2007) % Standing 41 + 1.0 Feeding 35 + 1.0 Drinking 8 + 0.0 Sitting 7.5 + 0.0 Grooming etc. 8.5 + 1.0 Standing; 55% on floor, 26% on perches Hy-Line International
Selection Process Pedigree Data Field Test Data Selection Index BLUP values for each bird Marker trait associations in field test data DNA Marker Data
Traits Under Selection Groups Individual Trait Measured and Selected! Production Traits Sexual maturity, peak egg laying rate, persistency of production, post-molt production! Animal Well Being Livability of pullets and adults, specific disease resistance (Marek s disease), feather cover, social behavior, reducing fear, ranging ability, nesting behavior, perch use, bird mobility.
Traits Under Selection Cont d Groups! Quality Traits! Efficiency! Reproduction Individual Trait Measured and Selected Shell strength, shell color, freedom from cracks, albumen quality, egg size, yolk weight, % solid yield, freedom from blood or meat inclusions Residual feed intake, group performances, low feed intakes, dry manure, body size, maintenance costs Fertility, male natural mating ability, hatchability, sperm count, sperm mobility
Final Selection* Percent Animals 2-3% 10-15% Index Value *Elite 2-3% selected to be mated to top 8-15% to reproduce each line
Evaluation of Traits in Multiple Environments! Traits such as:! Fear response! Mortality in group housing! Nesting behavior! Feather loss in group housing All need to be evaluated in many different environments to ensure birds respond well to complex environments. Hy-Line International
% Mortality 10 8 6 4 2 0 W36 North Carolina Random Sample Test Trend: % Mortality 0.14 Lower % Mortality/Year 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Year
% Mortality 20 15 10 5 0 Hy- Line Brown North Carolina Random Sample Test Trend: % Mortality 0.1% Improvement/Year 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 Year
Heritabilities of Traits Important in Bird Behavior Trait Heritabili8es Livability 0.10 0.14 Nes<ng Behavior 0.33 0.39 Feather Score 0.22 0.33 Fear Tests 0.19 0.24 Hy-Line International
! Genomic Selection New Technology! Genotyping pedigree birds with High Density Marker SNP panel.! Selection more accurate. Select at the DNA level.! Selection can occur at younger ages! Breeding programs redesigned Hy-Line International
Impact of Genomic Selection! Group evaluated traits can now be selected at the individual bird level. Livability, and behaviors.! Group evaluated traits will make more year-on-year rate of gain due to improved selection accuracy! Birds will be selected which are better adapted to production systems than ever before. More adaptable hens. Hy-Line International
Genomic Selection will improve selection accuracy. Especially for males. Individuals will be distinguished based on their genotypes. No longer family Ave. Picking the best genotypes means picking those with the best genes. Every year improving the performance. Currently we improve egg number by more than 3 eggs per year. If this improves by 15% than we will increase at more than 3.5 eggs per year.
Genomic Selection will radically improve traits selected by family group information. Livability - 1-2% better per decade Feather picking Fully feathered hens to end of lay at 100 weeks. Marek s Disease resistance Genetic resistance evolves faster than virus mutates. Social behavior No social vices, no piling, no picking. Nesting behavior All eggs nest laid. Response to stress Bomb proof hen.
100 Week Egg Number Egg # 600 580 560 540 520 500 480 460 440 420 400 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Hy-Line will celebrate 100 years with our hens laying 550 eggs to 100 weeks of age 2036 550
kg/kg 2.4 100 Weeks Feed Conversion kg/kg 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.6 2036 1.15 1.4 1.2 1.0 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Hy-Line will celebrate 100 years with our hens converting 1.15 kg feed into 1.0kg eggs to 100 weeks
100 Week Livability % Livability 100.0 98.0 96.0 94.0 92.0 2036 97% 90.0 88.0 86.0 84.0 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Hy-Line will celebrate 100 years with our hens living at 97% to 100 weeks
Summary! Breeders select routinely on over 30 traits! Traits are measured on birds housed in multiple different systems! Measureable progress is made in all traits every generation! Genomic selection will boost selection for the group expressed traits! Breeders will continue to innovate to accelerate rate of genetic gain Hy-Line International
Thank You