POPULATION STRUCTURE AND PEDIGREE ANALYSIS OF TWO LINES OF LAYING QUAILS

• Grant number: 24/00197-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Danísio Prado Munari
• Grantee: Camilla Evelyne da Silva Arantes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

According UN, the human population will increase 9.7 billion people until 2050. This amount will intensify the need to seek alternatives to improve global food security. In this context, quails (Coturnix coturnix) stand out as a promising source of protein, with eggs notably rich in nutrients. In Brazil, quail farming, focused on egg production, has expanded as a profitable option for small producers. However, challenges persist, such as the low popularity of quail meat. This study aims to assess the effects of inbreeding on egg production in two laying quail lines selected for this trait. The data originate from the laying quail genetic improvement program of Vicami Codornas Company in São Paulo. The lines L1 and L2, were controlled over ten generations (2015 to 2021). Pedigree records of 20,448 birds from L1 and 19,170 birds from L2 will used to evaluate the population structure. The analysis will conducted using the Contribution Inbreeding Coancestry (CFC) software to calculate population statistics. The ENDOG v.4.8 tool will be used to assess the integrity of the pedigree, efective number of founders and ancestors, average relatedness, inbreeding coefficient, and efective population size. By identifying the effects of inbreeding on egg production, this study will contribute to sustainable practices in quail farming, ensuring efficient and genetically robust production.