Genetic and phenotypic parameters of body weight and bone integrity, and inbreeding relationships in poultry resulting from crosses between broiler and layer lines.

• Grant number: 24/15818-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Salvador Boccaletti Ramos
• Grantee: Diana Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian broiler production is one of the most technologically advanced and productive activities in the world, standing out for its organization and high feed conversion rates. In 2022, Brazil produced approximately 14.5 billion tons of chicken, exporting 4.8 million, consolidating its position as the world's largest exporter. In 2023, production increased to 14.883 billion tons. The intensification of production systems and the demand for efficiency increase the need for well-structured genetic improvement programs. This project aims to estimate heritabilities and genetic, phenotypic, and environmental correlations in broiler chickens from Embrapa Swine and Poultry, focusing on body weight at 42 days and femur weight to determine bone integrity, as well as to estimate the inbreeding coefficient of the animals and verify if they have an effect on the studied characteristics. The work involves a literature review, organization of performance and pedigree data, and statistical analyses. The application of quantitative genetics is essential for the selection of desirable traits, improving productivity and reducing locomotor problems in broiler chickens, which lead to increased early mortality and the return of these animals to slaughterhouses. The study of inbreeding relationships is crucial to explain and consolidate advantageous traits, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of Brazilian poultry farming.