Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Moh Sallam, Peter W. W. Wilson, Bjoern Andersson, Matthias Schmutz, Cristina Benavides, Nazaret Dominguez-Gasca, Alejandro B. Rodriguez-Navarro, Estefania B. Sanchez-Rodriguez, Ian C. C. Dunn, Dirk-Jan De Koning, Martin Johnsson
Summary: This study identified novel genetic markers associated with bone composition traits, particularly organic matter. Medullary organic matter% and mineral% showed high genetic correlations with tibia density. The results highlighted that cortical lipid may be a key measurement for further avian bone studies.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Zhang Wang, Ian C. Dunn, Peter W. Wilson, Sandra Poyatos Pertinez, Janet E. Fulton, Jesus Arango, Bjoern Andersson, Matthias Schmutz, Anna Wolc
Summary: A genome wide association study was conducted to investigate the genetic basis of cuticle deposition in three populations of laying hens. The study identified several genomic regions significantly associated with cuticle deposition, supporting the polygenic nature of this trait.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. L. Edgar, Y. Omi, F. Booth, N. Mackie, G. Richards, J. Tarlton
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether hens that had previously sustained keel bone fractures showed higher levels of fear and anxiety, as well as the impact on production, behavior, and resource use. The study found no significant differences between hens with previous fractures and intact hens in fear and anxiety tests, behavior, and resource use. Fracture hens were lighter and laid eggs with less eggshell membrane, but there were no differences in other production measures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ida C. N. Thofner, Jan Dahl, Jens Peter Christensen
Summary: Keel bone fractures (KBF) in commercial poultry production systems are a major welfare concern with possible economic implications for the poultry industry, and recent investigations suggest the situation may be deteriorating. High fracture prevalences have been observed in different housing systems, with some risk factors such as hen size and daily egg weight being identified. Further research is needed to improve the welfare of laying hens.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Enya Van Poucke, Hedvika Suchankova, Per Jensen
Summary: Commercial hatchery processing may have long-term negative effects on the coping ability of laying hens.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Haidong Wei, Yanru Feng, Susu Ding, Haoyang Nian, Hanlin Yu, Qian Zhao, Jun Bao, Runxiang Zhang
Summary: This study compared the incidence of keel bone damage and its effects on stress and fear in two strains of laying hens. The results showed that keel bone fractures caused stress and fear responses, impairing hen welfare, with differences in behavioral and physiological responses between the strains. Keel bone fractures induced negative emotions, affecting chicken welfare, with Lindian chickens exhibiting more severe stress and fear responses compared to Hy-line Brown hens.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Julia Malchow, Beryl K. Eusemann, Stefanie Petow, Lars Schrader
Summary: This study compared dual-purpose chickens with conventional laying chickens in terms of performance, animal welfare, and perching behavior. Dual-purpose chickens performed better in some aspects, but also had issues such as keel bone damage.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lisa Jung, Abozar Nasirahmadi, Jan Schulte-Landwehr, Ute Knierim
Summary: Keel bone damage (KBD) is a prevalent issue in commercial laying hen flocks, affecting a wide range of hens. An automatic assessment system at the slaughter line showed high accuracy and correlation with visually determined prevalences by a trained human assessor. This system provides opportunities for better monitoring and combating this severe animal welfare problem in the long-term.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Anette Wichman, Rosan De Groot, Olle Hastad, Helena Wall, Diana Rubene
Summary: This study investigated how different types of lighting affect laying hen behavior and welfare, finding that natural-like light may have beneficial effects on domestic fowl, but the differences between broad-spectrum light sources are rather small, suggesting that light intensity and other quality factors in the housing environment are more important for maintaining high welfare.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Endre Putyora, Sarah Brocklehurst, Frank Tuyttens, Victoria Sandilands
Summary: The positive welfare of commercial animals has many benefits, so it is important to accurately assess welfare. This study aimed to establish a baseline for sleep behavior in laying hens and observed the effects of short-term disturbances. The results showed that laying hens were resilient to short-term sleep disruption and it did not impact their long-term welfare.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Guro Vasdal, Joanna Marchewka, Ruth C. Newberry, Inma Estevez, Kathe Kittelsen
Summary: This study compared three approaches for welfare assessment in aviary flocks and found that all three methods were able to detect significant differences in welfare indicator prevalence between flocks. The novel Aviary Transect method provides egg producers with an efficient and sensitive whole-flock assessment of hen welfare status in multitiered aviaries.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Soren Saxmose Nielsen, Julio Alvarez, Dominique Joseph Bicout, Paolo Calistri, Elisabetta Canali, Julian Ashley Drewe, Bruno Garin-Bastuji, Jose Luis Gonzales Rojas, Christian Gortazar Schmidt, Mette Herskin, Miguel angel Miranda Chueca, Barbara Padalino, Paolo Pasquali, Helen Clare Roberts, Hans Spoolder, Karl Stahl, Antonio Velarde, Arvo Viltrop, Christoph Winckler, Inmaculada Estevez, Maryse Guinebretiere, Bas Rodenburg, Lars Schrader, Inga Tiemann, Thea Van Niekerk, Michele Ardizzone, Sean Ashe, Michaela Hempen, Olaf Mosbach-Schulz, Cristina Rojo Gimeno, Yves Van Der Stede, Marika Vitali, Virginie Michel
Summary: This scientific opinion focuses on the welfare of laying hens, pullets, and layer breeders, describing the relevant husbandry systems used in Europe and identifying the welfare consequences and associated measures. Additionally, recommendations are provided for monitoring the welfare of laying hens on farms.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Guro Vasdal, Ruth C. Newberry, Inma Estevez, Kathe Kittelsen, Joanna Marchewka
Summary: The Aviary Transect (AT) is a method for assessing welfare in cage-free laying hen flocks, which involves standardized walks screening the flock for selected welfare indicators. The study aimed to evaluate how AT findings varied in relation to various housing, management, environmental, and production factors. The results showed that the assessment varied according to housing conditions, supporting the validity of AT as a relevant welfare assessment tool for evaluating cage-free management practices.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Masayoshi Yamada, Chongxiao Chen, Toshie Sugiyama, Woo Kyun Kim
Summary: Egg-laying hens supply calcium to their eggshells through dynamic bone remodeling, but as they age, an imbalance in this process leads to weaker and more brittle bones, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Age-related osteoporosis might be linked to low estrogen levels and stimulation of bone resorption by parathyroid hormone. Differences in bone structure between age groups were observed, with younger hens having higher bone volume and density compared to older hens.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
David Armstrong, Lucy Asher, Ann Rayner, Halima Ngidda, Bryony Sharma, Helen Gray
Summary: Piling behavior in cage-free egg production has implications for production and can result in reduced egg yield. On average, hens engage in piling behavior four times a day for approximately 44 minutes per event, with peak piling occurring between 1300 and 1359. The study also found that the number of piling events was negatively associated with the number of eggs produced the following day, while the total duration of piling per day was positively associated with fewer Grade B eggs.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
H. Wall, M. Boyner, D. J. de Koning, A. Kindmark, H. A. McCormack, R. H. Fleming, F. Lopes Pinto, R. Tauson
Summary: The study focused on long-life layers and investigated the effects on mortality, integument, and skeletal properties, with or without supplementation with dietary organic zinc. Results showed potential welfare threats in long-life layers such as keel bone integrity, claw length, and mortality rate, with organic zinc not significantly improving welfare conditions.
BRITISH POULTRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Christos Palaiokostas, Anam Anjum, Henrik Jeuthe, Khrystyna Kurta, Fernando Lopes Pinto, Dirk Jan de Koning
Summary: Routine implementation of genomic information for guiding selection is not common in most aquaculture species. In the study, ddRAD-seq was used on an Arctic charr strain with a long history of selection, revealing low genetic differentiation and potential genetic regions affecting body length and age of sexual maturation.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
P. W. Wilson, I. C. Dunn, H. A. Mccormack
Summary: This study established a method using digital X-ray to measure bone density, providing a feasible approach for genetic selection of bone quality.
BRITISH POULTRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jonathan H. Perez, Elisabetta Tolla, Valerie R. Bishop, Russell G. Foster, Stuart N. Peirson, Ian C. Dunn, Simone L. Meddle, Tyler J. Stevenson
Summary: This study examined the role of VA and OPN5 in the avian photo-periodic response, and found that VA opsins play a dominant role in the seasonal reproduction of birds. Surprisingly, silencing these photoreceptors enhanced the reproductive response to light stimulation.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Susanne Eriksson, Erling Strandberg, Anna M. Johansson
Summary: Swedish Red and Swedish Holstein, the dominant dairy cattle breeds in Sweden, have undergone significant changes in genomic diversity and inbreeding over the past half-century. The study used genotyping data from old and recent bulls to analyze different measures of homozygosity, genomic inbreeding, relatedness, and allele frequency changes. The results showed that the inbreeding level was higher in the past but has decreased, although recent years have seen an increase in inbreeding coefficients and homozygosity in Swedish Holstein. The findings highlight the importance of considering these factors in future breeding strategies.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Martin Johnsson, Helena Wall, Fernando A. Lopes Pinto, Robert H. Fleming, Heather A. McCormack, Cristina Benavides-Reyes, Nazaret Dominguez-Gasca, Estefania Sanchez-Rodriguez, Ian C. Dunn, Alejandro B. Rodriguez-Navarro, Andreas Kindmark, Dirk-Jan de Koning
Summary: This study analyzed the genetic characteristics of bone strength, bone mineral density, bone composition, and body weight in 860 commercial crossbred laying hens. The results showed significant differences in bone strength between different housing systems, with floor pens producing stronger bones. Three genetic loci for body weight and bone length were found to be shared between the housing systems. In summary, this study demonstrates the significant impact of housing systems on bone strength, content, and composition, and suggests a polygenic regulation of bone strength in commercial crossbred hens.
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Monika Johansson, Ase Lundh, Anna Maria Johansson
Summary: Locally produced food, especially artisan-manufactured goat cheese, is gaining popularity among Swedish consumers. The study investigates the association between the expression of alpha(S1)-CN protein and the genotype of the CSN1S1 gene in Swedish Landrace goats, and suggests the need for a breeding program for Swedish dairy goats. Rating: 8/10.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad Golshani Jourshari, Abdol Ahad Shadparvar, Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, Farjad Rafeie, Mohammad Hossein Banabazi, Anna Maria Johansson
Summary: Native Cattle of Guilan (NCG), one of the few pure native breeds in Iran, has experienced a significant decline in population over the past decade. This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and candidate genes associated with meat production traits in NCG. The results revealed several SNPs and candidate genes related to abdominal depth, head width, hip width, and withers height, which play important roles in muscle growth, meat tenderness, fat cell differentiation, fat metabolism, and adipogenesis. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetics of NCG and can contribute to the preservation and sustainable use of this breed as an important genetic resource in Iran.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. Struthers, B. Andersson, M. Schmutz, O. Matika, H. A. McCormack, P. W. Wilson, I. C. Dunn, V. Sandilands, J. J. Schoenebeck
Summary: This study describes the variation in maxillary beak shape in two pure White Leghorn layer lines and examines its relationship with pre-maxillary bone, feather cover, and mortality. Through geometric morphometrics analysis, it was found that the beak shape variation could be explained by three principal components, and there were differences in beak shape between different lines. Additionally, a moderate correlation was found between beak shape and pre-maxillary bone shape and size. Furthermore, there were differences in feather cover and mortality between different lines.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Zhang Wang, Ian C. Dunn, Peter W. Wilson, Sandra Poyatos Pertinez, Janet E. Fulton, Jesus Arango, Bjoern Andersson, Matthias Schmutz, Anna Wolc
Summary: A genome wide association study was conducted to investigate the genetic basis of cuticle deposition in three populations of laying hens. The study identified several genomic regions significantly associated with cuticle deposition, supporting the polygenic nature of this trait.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Moh Sallam, Peter W. W. Wilson, Bjoern Andersson, Matthias Schmutz, Cristina Benavides, Nazaret Dominguez-Gasca, Alejandro B. Rodriguez-Navarro, Estefania B. Sanchez-Rodriguez, Ian C. C. Dunn, Dirk-Jan De Koning, Martin Johnsson
Summary: This study identified novel genetic markers associated with bone composition traits, particularly organic matter. Medullary organic matter% and mineral% showed high genetic correlations with tibia density. The results highlighted that cortical lipid may be a key measurement for further avian bone studies.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Qasim Mashood, Anders H. Karlsson, Anna Wallenbeck, Susanne Eriksson, Anna M. Johansson, Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist
Summary: This review examines the multi-factor problem of PSE-like zones in pork, including slaughter weight, chilling regime, and post-slaughter pH and temperature. Genetic factors are also found to affect PSE incidence.
ACTA AGRICULTURAE SCANDINAVICA SECTION A-ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sofia Nyman, Anna M. Johansson, Valentina Palucci, Anna A. Schonherz, Bernt Guldbrandtsen, Dirk Hinrichs, Dirk-Jan de Koning
Summary: This study provides the first detailed analysis of the genetic diversity and inbreeding levels of European red dairy cattle breeds. Red Dairy Cattle, Vorderwalder, Swedish Polled, and Hinterwalder have more genetic diversity, while the Meuse-Rhine-Yssel breed, with decreased population size, increased inbreeding, and low effective population size, should implement a breeding program to prevent further loss in genetic diversity.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Juan Cordero-Solorzano, Dirk-Jan de Koning, Madeleine Traven, Therese de Haan, Mathilde Jouffroy, Andrea Larsson, Aline Myrthe, Joop A. J. Arts, Henk K. Parmentier, Henk Bovenhuis, Jonas Johansson Wensman
Summary: The genetic background of antibody levels in colostrum and calf serum, as well as their correlation with milk production, were investigated in this study. The results suggest that antibody levels in colostrum and calf serum can be increased through selection.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2022)