Variation of qualitative and quantitative traits in day old chick crossbred of Bangkok and Lohman laying hens

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the body weight based on feather color and shank color in one-day-old (DOC) crossbred of Bangkok and Lohmann laying hens. The research material used was 373 Crossbred Day-Old Chick (DOC). The variables measured were body weight as quantitative traits, therefore feather and shank color as qualitative traits. The results showed that the feather color of Crossbred chicken varied, namely brown, grey, white, yellow, and black, with a percentage of 17.69%, 1.87%, 6.87%, 42.62%, and 30.83%, respectively. The shank colors were yellow and black, with a rate of 67.56% and 32.42%, respectively. The mean body weight for brown, grey, white, yellow, and black feather color was 40.12 ± 4.38 g; 42.43 ± 2.76 g; 40.65 ± 3.03 g; 39.82 ± 3.38 g; and 39.61 ± 3.67 g, respectively. The analysis showed that body weight was not different between feather colors. The highest percentage of color for feather and shank was yellow. The quantitative traits measured in crossbred DOC of Bangkok and Lohmann were above the DOC national standard. The results showed that the dominant qualitative trait in Crossbred chicken for feather color was yellow at 42.62%, shank color was yellow at 67.56%.

Exogenous corticosterone and melanin-based coloration explain variation in juvenile dispersal behaviour in the barn owl (Tyto alba)

Natal dispersal affects many processes such as population dynamics. So far, most studies have examined the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that determine the distance between the place of birth and of first breeding. In contrast, few researchers followed the first steps of dispersal soon after fledging. To study this gap, we radio-tracked 95 barn owl nestlings (Tyto alba) to locate their diurnal roost sites from the fledging stage until December. This was used to test whether the age of nest departure, post-fledging movements and dispersal distance were related to melanin-based coloration, which is correlated to fitness-related traits, as well as to corticosterone, a hormone that mediates a number of life history trade-offs and the physiological and behavioural responses to stressful situations. We found that the artificial administration of corticosterone delayed the age when juveniles left their parental home-range in females but not in males. During the first few months after fledging, longer dispersal distances were reached by females compared to males, by individuals marked with larger black feather spots compared to individuals with smaller spots, by larger individuals and by those experimentally treated with corticosterone. We conclude that the onset and magnitude of dispersal is sensitive to the stress hormone corticosterone, melanin-based coloration and body size.

COLOUR VARIATIONS AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIGENOUS CHICKEN OF SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

The survey of indigenous chicken was carried out in 8 states comprising 119 local government of South Western Nigeria between October 1994 and May 1995 to evaluate colour variation relative to performance characteristics as selection criteria for development of improved indigenous poultry types for the Nigerian market. The colours recorded were those of the skin of the shank, the earlobe, the comb and the beak as well as that of the feathers. Significant differences were recorded for the feather colour effect on the liveweight, breast girth and breast length (P < 0.05). The shank and earlobe colours significantly affected the birds shank length, comb height, live weight ad backbone length (P < 0.05) with a highly significant (P < 0.05) earlobe effect on the breast girth Out of the 2032 birds analysed with complete records, 45.9% had mottled feather colour. The black white and brown colours were 17.4; 16.4; and 19.98% respectively while only 0.34% were red. Birds with yellow shanks were 35% while black, white/ash, white and piebald (yellow or white laced with black spots) were 23.3; 28.1; 10.8 and .8% represented 28.4 and 29.9% of the population whilst white earlobe was found in 53.4% of the birds. Though 45.9% of the birds had mottled feather colour, highest shank length of 8.04 and 8.05cm and liveweight of 1.37 and 1.41kg were black feather colours respectively. Eggs laid varied from 30.5 to 37.4 for the black and white feathered chicken with 25.65 to 30.98 hatched (i.e % hathability of 81.06 – 88.78%) by the mottled and white feathered chickens. A highly significant (P < 0.001) positive correlation of 0.982 between eggs laid and eggs hatched and correlations of 0.517 and 0.497 between these variables and those of comb height indicate their usefulness as selection criteria. Coupled with a high heritability estimate of 0.597 and 0.513 for liveweight, and the phenotypic colour variance of feather and shank, selection based on these colour variances could be effective in breed development.

The productivity of 4th Generation KUB-2 Chicken

KUB-2 line of chicken has improved local chicken selected from the KUB-1 chicken line. KUB-2 was selected for more egg production and yellow shank. KUB-1 chicken has 64% various of black feather color, which sometimes tends to have unpreferred dark carcass. Yellow shank color has a positive correlation with the skin color of carcass. As many as 517 pullets of KUB-2 at 4th generation were divided into two groups of 194 pullets of KUB-2kk (yellow shank) and 323 pullets of KUB-2nk non-yellow shank). The chickens were raised intensively in the individual cages for the 24 weeks observation. Variables measured were age at first egg (AFE) bodyweight at first egg (BWFE), egg weight at first egg (EWFE), average egg weight (AEW), average egg production (AEP) during 24 weeks, feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 25-43 weeks of age, and mortality. The result showed that there was no statistically significant different (p>0.05) between KUB-2nk and KUB-2kk respectively for AFE of 156.2 d and 158.1 d, for BWFE of 1788 g and 1808 g, for EWFE of 31.32 g and 31.34 g, for AEP24 of 103.3 eggs or 61.5% and 101.9 eggs or 60.7%, and for FCR25-43 of 3.53 and 3.54. AEW increased with increasing age of hen, the mortality of the whole population was 0.98%.

Integrated Analysis of mRNA Expression, CpG Island Methylation, and Polymorphisms in the MITF Gene in Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a key regulator for the development and function of melanocytes in skin, eye, and plumage pigmentations. Thus, the MITF was selected as a candidate gene associated with plumage coloration in ducks. This study analyzed the mRNA expression, promoter methylation, and polymorphisms in the MITF gene in ducks with different plumage colors (Putian Black, Putian White, Liancheng White, and Longsheng Jade-green). No expression of the MITF melanin-specific isoform (MITF-M) was detected in white feather bulbs. By contrast, the mRNA expression levels of MITF-M were high in black feather bulbs. Bioinformatics analysis showed that two CpG islands were present in the promoter region of the MITF gene. The methylation level of the second CpG island was significantly lower in black feather bulbs than in white feather bulbs. However, the methylation level of the first CpG island was not different among the feather bulbs with various colors except Liancheng White feather bulbs. The methylation status of the whole CpG island significantly and negatively correlated with the mRNA expression of MITF-M (P<0.05). Furthermore, four novel SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) were identified in the 5′UTR, exon 4, intron 7, and intron 8 of the MITF gene. Allele T in g.39807T>G and allele G in g.40862G>A were the predominant alleles only found in Putian White, whereas the variant A allele in g.32813G>A exhibited a high allele frequency in Liancheng White. Collectively, these results contributed to the understanding of the function of the MITF gene in duck plumage coloration.

Expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor genes co-vary with a stress-related colour signal in barn owls

Glucocorticoid hormones are important intermediates between an organism and its environment. They enable an organism to adjust its behavioural and physiological processes in response to environmental changes by binding to mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) expressed in many tissues, including the integument. The regulation of glucocorticoids covaries with melanin-based colouration in numerous species, an association that might result from the melanocortin system and evolve within a signalling context. Most studies have focused on the circulating levels of glucocorticoids disregarding the receptors that mediate their action and could partly account for the covariation between the regulation of stress and melanin-based coloration. We investigated the association between melanin-based coloration and the gene expression levels of GR and MR but also of the melanocortin system and melanogenesis in the growing feathers of nestling barn owls (Tyto alba). We also considered the expression of genes related to the melanocortin system and melanogenesis to better understand the origin of the link between the expression of receptors to which corticosterone binds and melanin-based coloration. Nestling barn owls displaying larger black feather spots expressed GR and MR at lower levels than did smaller-spotted individuals. Because the expression of the GR and MR genes was positively, rather than negatively, correlated with the expression of melanogenic genes, we suggest that the link between melanin-based coloration, GR and MR is not directly associated to melanogenesis. The finding that the expression of GR and MR was positively associated with the expression of the PCSK2 gene (encoding the protein convertase responsible for post-translational modification of the proopiomelanocortin hormone) suggests that the melanocortin system may be implicated in the establishment of the covariation between melanism and the expression of receptors to which glucocorticoids bind. Together with previous studies, our results suggest that coloration is not only related to the production of glucocorticoids but also to the sensitivity of the integument to glucocorticoids.

Morphological characteristic of black-winged myna (acridotheres melanopterus)*

Black-winged myna (Acridotheres melanopterus) is an endemic bird of Java and Bali, currently critically endangered based on International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN) since 2010. The study about black-winged myna morphological characteristic is important because it has two relatives with almost identical features of morphology. The information can be used as a basis in breeding management to avoid hybridization. The study aims to determine the morphological characteristics of black-winged myna. The sample selection was done using purposive sampling method. Data was taken from 36 black-winged mynas with >=2 years old. Data collection was done by measuring and documenting every morphological feature of the observed body parts. Documentation of the wings, back, chest, head and sides of the body are taken from each bird using a digital camera. The results showed that almost the entire body of black-winged myna covered by white feather, black feather only present on the cover of the wings and tail. Black eyes surrounded by yellow skin without feather. The beak is orange with blackish parts around the nostrils. The bird has yellow legs with three fingers at the front and one finger at the back. The average body length of this bird is 22.5 cm, weight 89.02 g, width 5.98 cm, body circumference 14.36 cm and wingspan 38.49 cm.

Ultradian Rhythmicity in Sleep-Wakefulness Is Related to Color in Nestling Barn Owls

The possession of a rhythm is usually described as an important adaptation to regular changing environmental conditions such as the light-dark cycle. However, recent studies have suggested plasticity in the expression of a rhythm depending on life history and environmental factors. Barn owl ( Tyto alba) nestlings show variations in behavior and physiology in relation to the size of black feather spots, a trait associated with many behavioral and physiological phenotypes including the circadian expression of corticosterone and the regulation of body mass. This raises the possibility that individual spottiness could be associated with rhythmicity in sleep-wakefulness. Owlets showed ultradian rhythms in sleep-wakefulness, with a period length of 4.5 to 4.9 h. The period length of wakefulness and non-REM sleep was shorter in heavily compared to lightly spotted female nestlings, whereas in males, the opposite result was found. Furthermore, male and female nestlings displaying small black spots showed strong rhythmicity levels in wakefulness and REM sleep. This might be an advantage in a stable environment with predictable periodic changes in light, temperature, or social interactions. Heavily spotted nestlings displayed weak rhythms in wakefulness and REM sleep, which might enable them to be more flexible in reactions to unexpected events such as predation or might be a mechanism to save energy. These findings are consistent with previous findings showing that large-spotted nestlings switch more frequently between wakefulness and sleep, resulting in higher levels of vigilance compared to small-spotted conspecifics. Thus, nestlings with larger black feather spots might differently handle the trade-off between wakefulness and sleep, attention, and social interactions compared to nestlings with smaller black spots.