Study on the Major Genes Related with Fat Deposition in Liver and Abdominal Fat of Different Breeds of Chicken

Fat deposition is higher in fast growing chickens than in slow growing chickens. The liver is the major organ for lipogenesis and fat deposition in chickens, although genetic background, age, and gender also influence fat deposition. In the present study, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying fat deposition in liver and abdominal fat. We determined the expression abundances of the key genes regulating fat metabolism in fast-growing (FG) broilers (Cobb) and slow-growing (SG) broilers (HS1) and found that ACC, FAS, PGC-1α, PPARγ, SREBP-1c and PLIN1genes were expressed in the abdominal fat and liver tissues of FG and SG. ANOVA analysis showed that the breed, age, and tissue factors influenced the expressions of ACC, FAS, PGC-1α, PPARγ, SREBP-1c, and PLIN1 genes in the liver and abdominal fat of FG and SG. Also, the expressions of PPARγ and PLIN1 in the liver of SG were higher than that of FG. The results suggest that the differences in adipocyte development and adipose deposition between breeds are due to genetic factors.(AU)

Genome-Wide Association Study of Abdominal Fat in Wenshang Barred Chicken Based on the Slaf-Seq Technology

Chicken abdominal fat (AF) is an economically important trait, and many studies have been conducted on genetic selection for AF. However, previous studies have focused on detecting functional chromosome mutations or regions using gene chips. The present study used the specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on purebred Wengshang Barred chicken. A total of 1,286,715 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, and 175,211 SNPs were selected as candidate SNPs for genome-wide association analysis using TASSEL general linear models. Two SNPs markers reached genome-wide significance. Of these, rs7943847, rs127627362 were significantly associated with AF at 120 days. These SNPs are close to eight genes (SLC16A6, ARSG, WIPI1, PRKAR1A, FAM20A, ABCA8, ABCA9, CPQ,). These results would enrich the studies on AF and promote the use of Chinese chicken, especially the Wenshang Barred chicken.(AU)

Metabolizable energy levels in diets with a fixed nutrient: calorie ratio for free-range broilers / Níveis de energia metabolizável com manutenção da relação nutriente: caloria em dietas para frangos de corte tipo caipira

The present study proposes to examine the effect of dietary levels of metabolizable energy, under a fixed nutrient:calorie ratio, on the production performance; body fat and protein deposition; and carcass characteristics of free-range broilers from 1 to 84 days of age. Nine hundred unsexed chicks were allocated to six treatments in a completely randomized design with six replicates of 25 birds each. Treatments consisted of diets with varying levels of metabolizable energy (2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100 and 3200 Kcal ME/kg of diet) and a fixed proportion of nutrients relative to the energy level according to the nutritional requirements for each rearing phase. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, production viability, metabolizable energy intake, protein intake, lysine intake, body fat deposition, body protein deposition and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and, later, to regression analysis. Increasing levels of metabolizable energy, coupled with a fixed nutrient:calorie ratio, reduced feed intake, increased body weight and weight gain, improved feed conversion and did not affect carcass characteristics. In conclusion, adjusting the nutrient supply according to the dietary energy level improves production performance by improving feed conversion, ensuring adequate nutrient intake and preserving fat and protein deposition in the carcass when the metabolizable energy level is raised up to 3200 Kcal/kg in all rearing stages.(AU)

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os níveis de energia metabolizável, sob uma relação nutriente:caloria fixa, no desempenho produtivo; deposição de gordura e proteína corporal e características de carcaça de frangos de corte tipo caipiras. Foram utilizados novecentos pintainhos não sexados, distribuidos em seis tratamentos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com seis repetições de 25 aves cada. Os tratamentos consistiram em dietas com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável (2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100 e 3200 Kcal EM / kg de dieta) e uma proporção fixa de nutrientes em relação ao nível de energia de acordo com as necessidades nutricionais de cada fase de criação. Foram avaliados o peso corporal, ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, viabilidade criatória, consumo de energia metabolizável, consumo de proteína, consumo de lisina, deposição de gordura corporal, deposição de proteína corporal e características de carcaça. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e posteriormente à análise de regressão. O aumento dos níveis de energia metabolizável juntamente com a manutenção da relação nutriente:caloria reduziu o consumo de ração, aumentou o peso corporal e o ganho de peso, melhorou a conversão alimentar e não afetou as características da carcaça. Em conclusão, o ajuste da oferta de nutrientes de acordo com o nível de energia da dieta melhora o desempenho da produção, melhorando a conversão alimentar, garantindo a ingestão adequada de nutrientes e preservando a deposição de gordura e proteína na carcaça quando o nível de energia metabolizável é elevado até 3200 Kcal/kg em todas as fases de criação.(AU)

Effects of chronic consumption of green tea on weight and body fat distribution of Wistar rats evaluated by computed tomography

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of chronic consumption of green tea on body weight and distribution of visceral fat by Computed tomography in female Wistar rats. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into control group (n = 5), which received water and feed ad libitum, and green tea group (n = 8), in which water has been replaced by green tea. The animals were weighed weekly and Computed Tomography was used at the beginning (1st week) and end (18th week) of the experiment for evaluating the distribution of visceral fat. The animals were followed for 18 weeks. Results: There was no significant difference in body weight between the groups. However, there was significant difference in visceral fat area. The green tea group had less visceral fat area at the end of the experiment, 3.67 ± 1.2 cm2, while the control group showed an area of 6.25 ± 2.2 cm (p = 0.00). Conclusions: Chronic consumption of green tea leads to decreased visceral adipose tissue area.(AU)

Effects of Guanidionoacetic Acid and Arginine Supplementation to Vegetable Diets Fed to Broiler Chickens Subjected to Heat Stress before Slaughter

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and L-arginine (L-Arg) as creatine precursors to vegetable diets on the carcass yield and meat quality of broilers subjected to two days of heat stress before slaughter. A total of 1260 broiler chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized design into four treatments with nine replicates of 35 birds each. The treatments consisted of: T1 - vegetable diet based on corn and soybean meal (control diet); T2 - control diet with the inclusion of meat meal (3%); T3 - control diet supplemented with GAA (0.08%); and T4 - control diet supplemented with L-Arg (0.8%). The birds were submitted to heat stress for two days before slaughter (from 42 to 44 days of age). The birds fed the diets supplemented with GAA or L-Arg presented heavier carcasses (p 0.0035), higher breast yield (p=0.0685), and lower of abdominal fat deposition (p=0.0508) than those fed the control diet and the control diet with meat meal. The cooking loss of the breast fillets of broilers fed the control diet supplemented with meat meal, GAA or L-Arg was lower (p 0.0068) compared with those fed the control diet. Thawing and pressure-driven breast fillet weight losses, and pH, luminosity, redness (a*value), and yellowness (b* value) values were not influenced by the treatments. When GAA is less expensive than commercially-available Arg, the dietary supplementation of GAA is more advantageous, based on the meat yield improvements observed in the present study.(AU)

A Novel Polymorphism of VLDLR Signal Peptide Coding Region and Its Association with Growth and Abdominal Fat Traits of Gaoyou Domestic Ducks

The VLDLR gene plays important roles in the growth and adiposity in humans and mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between VLDLR gene genetic polymorphisms and growth and abdominal fat traits of the Gaoyou domestic duck. A total of 267 Gaoyou ducks were employed for testing. A 18bp deletion was identified in VLDLR signal peptide coding region. The results of c2 test suggested that the genotype frequencies of VLDLR signal peptide coding region were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Least squares analysis showed that body weight (BW) of -18bp/-18bp genotype ducks was significantly higher than those of other genotypes from six (BW6) (p 0.05) to ten weeks of age (BW10) (p 0.01). The association analysis was performed taken body weight as covariant for abdominal percentage (AFP). Results showed that there was not interaction between genotype (p>0.05) and body weight for AFP and different genotypes had a significant effect on AFP (p 0.05). The results of Bonferroni t-test revealed that the abdominal fat percentage (AFP) of -18bp/-18bp genotype was significantly lower than those of +18bp/-18bp (p 0.05). Preliminary studies have shown that VLDLR may be a candidate gene for the selection for growth and abdominal fat, and the results of the present study indicate that VLDLR strongly influences carcass abdominal fat content of Gaoyou ducks.(AU)

Effects of Guanidionoacetic Acid and Arginine Supplementation to Vegetable Diets Fed to Broiler Chickens Subjected to Heat Stress before Slaughter

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and L-arginine (L-Arg) as creatine precursors to vegetable diets on the carcass yield and meat quality of broilers subjected to two days of heat stress before slaughter. A total of 1260 broiler chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized design into four treatments with nine replicates of 35 birds each. The treatments consisted of: T1 - vegetable diet based on corn and soybean meal (control diet); T2 - control diet with the inclusion of meat meal (3%); T3 - control diet supplemented with GAA (0.08%); and T4 - control diet supplemented with L-Arg (0.8%). The birds were submitted to heat stress for two days before slaughter (from 42 to 44 days of age). The birds fed the diets supplemented with GAA or L-Arg presented heavier carcasses (p 0.0035), higher breast yield (p=0.0685), and lower of abdominal fat deposition (p=0.0508) than those fed the control diet and the control diet with meat meal. The cooking loss of the breast fillets of broilers fed the control diet supplemented with meat meal, GAA or L-Arg was lower (p 0.0068) compared with those fed the control diet. Thawing and pressure-driven breast fillet weight losses, and pH, luminosity, redness (a*value), and yellowness (b* value) values were not influenced by the treatments. When GAA is less expensive than commercially-available Arg, the dietary supplementation of GAA is more advantageous, based on the meat yield improvements observed in the present study.

A Novel Polymorphism of VLDLR Signal Peptide Coding Region and Its Association with Growth and Abdominal Fat Traits of Gaoyou Domestic Ducks

The VLDLR gene plays important roles in the growth and adiposity in humans and mice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between VLDLR gene genetic polymorphisms and growth and abdominal fat traits of the Gaoyou domestic duck. A total of 267 Gaoyou ducks were employed for testing. A 18bp deletion was identified in VLDLR signal peptide coding region. The results of c2 test suggested that the genotype frequencies of VLDLR signal peptide coding region were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Least squares analysis showed that body weight (BW) of -18bp/-18bp genotype ducks was significantly higher than those of other genotypes from six (BW6) (p 0.05) to ten weeks of age (BW10) (p 0.01). The association analysis was performed taken body weight as covariant for abdominal percentage (AFP). Results showed that there was not interaction between genotype (p>0.05) and body weight for AFP and different genotypes had a significant effect on AFP (p 0.05). The results of Bonferroni t-test revealed that the abdominal fat percentage (AFP) of -18bp/-18bp genotype was significantly lower than those of +18bp/-18bp (p 0.05). Preliminary studies have shown that VLDLR may be a candidate gene for the selection for growth and abdominal fat, and the results of the present study indicate that VLDLR strongly influences carcass abdominal fat content of Gaoyou ducks.

Effect of Feeding Low-Oil Ddgs to Laying Hens and Broiler Chickens on Performance and Egg Yolk and Skin Pigmentation

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional quality of two sources of low-oil distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and their pigmenting ability for broiler chicken skin and egg yolks. In Experiment 1, 360 Bovan-White hens between 69 and 77 weeks of age were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 12 hens each. In Experiment 2, 375 Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with three replicates of 25 birds each. The chickens were fed the experimental diets from one to 42 d of age. In both experiments, treatments consisted of a basal diet with no DDGS, and diets with 6% or 12% inclusion of DDGS from two sources. In Experiment 1, no significant differences in performance were detected among treatments (p> 0.05). Egg yolk pigmentation, according to CR-400 Minolta Colorimeter redness (a) and yellowness (b), linearly increased (p 0.05) with DDGS inclusions. In Experiment 2, no significant differences (p>0.05) were detected among treatments in growth performance, carcass yield, or abdominal fat at 42 d of age. Yellowness linearly increased (p 0.05) in the skin and abdominal fat of the birds that consumed diets with DDGS. The results of the current study indicate that feeding two sources of low-oil DDGS to broiler chicks or laying hens does not negatively affect egg production or growth performance while improves egg yolk and skin yellowness.(AU)

Effect of Feeding Low-Oil Ddgs to Laying Hens and Broiler Chickens on Performance and Egg Yolk and Skin Pigmentation

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritional quality of two sources of low-oil distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and their pigmenting ability for broiler chicken skin and egg yolks. In Experiment 1, 360 Bovan-White hens between 69 and 77 weeks of age were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments with 6 replicates of 12 hens each. In Experiment 2, 375 Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with three replicates of 25 birds each. The chickens were fed the experimental diets from one to 42 d of age. In both experiments, treatments consisted of a basal diet with no DDGS, and diets with 6% or 12% inclusion of DDGS from two sources. In Experiment 1, no significant differences in performance were detected among treatments (p> 0.05). Egg yolk pigmentation, according to CR-400 Minolta Colorimeter redness (a) and yellowness (b), linearly increased (p 0.05) with DDGS inclusions. In Experiment 2, no significant differences (p>0.05) were detected among treatments in growth performance, carcass yield, or abdominal fat at 42 d of age. Yellowness linearly increased (p 0.05) in the skin and abdominal fat of the birds that consumed diets with DDGS. The results of the current study indicate that feeding two sources of low-oil DDGS to broiler chicks or laying hens does not negatively affect egg production or growth performance while improves egg yolk and skin yellowness.