Breeding method and application of high-production-performance Qingyuan chicken new commercial line

Abstract

The invention discloses a breeding method and application of a new commercial line of Qingyuan chickens with high production performance, and relates to the technical field of poultry breeding. Comprising the following breeding steps: S1, forming a commercial line; and S2, new commercial line breeding. The Qingyuan chicken new commercial line is excellent in performance, and has the excellent characteristics of high reproductive performance of parental breeding chickens, capability of auto-sexing of commercial broiler chickens, strong disease resistance, excellent meat quality and flavor and the like. The body shape and appearance characteristics, the production performance, the meat quality characteristics and the like of the commercial broiler chicken meet the requirements of domestic provinces such as Guangdong, Hainan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and the like, Hong Kong Australian regions and even Singapore markets such as Singapore, and the commercial broiler chicken is not only suitable for standardized scale breeding, but also suitable for ecological breeding outside houses and under forests.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of poultry breeding, and more particularly to a breeding method and application of a new high-performance Qingyuan chicken mating line. BACKGROUND

[0002] China has rich poultry genetic resources. There are 115 local chicken breeds included in the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Variety Catalogue (2021 Edition), and 28 local chicken breeds selected into the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Protection Catalogue. These local breeds include Mustache Chicken, Xinghua Chicken, Qingyuan Chicken, Beijing Oil Chicken, etc. They are favored by consumers due to their tender meat, crispy skin, fine bones, delicious taste, and beautiful appearance. According to statistics, these unique meat quality local breeds account for 50% of domestic broiler consumption. At present, the preservation and production of most local breeds are achieved by pure breeding. However, the long-term impact of poor egg-laying performance of breeding hens, slow growth of broilers, and low feed conversion rate has resulted in high production costs, making it difficult to utilize the breeds and unable to meet the growing market demand. In addition, in recent years, the indiscriminate introduction of foreign breeds has led to a decrease in the quality and quantity of local breeds, and they are facing the danger of degradation, loss, and extinction.

[0003] Qingyuan Chicken, a famous local breed in Guangdong, is also known as Qingyuan Chicken. Its appearance characteristics are "one wedge, two thin, and three body". "One wedge" refers to the body shape like a wedge, with a compact front and a round back. "Two thin" refers to thin head and thin feet. "Three body" refers to the mother hen's back feathers mainly having yellow, brown, and brown colors, with a neck of moderate length. The male chicken's breast feathers, belly feathers, tail feathers, and main wing feathers are mostly black, with shoulder feathers and saddle feathers being garnet red. Qingyuan Chicken has yellow skin, smooth meat, and unique flavor, earning the reputation of "the first chicken in Lingnan". It is selected as one of the top ten excellent livestock and poultry germplasm resources in China and is one of the local breeds with excellent meat quality. However, it still has the disadvantages of low egg production, low reproductive ability, and slow growth of broilers.

[0004] Therefore, it is an urgent problem for those skilled in the art to provide a breeding method and application of a new high-performance Qingyuan chicken mating line. SUMMARY

[0005] Therefore, the present application provides a breeding method and application of a new high-performance Qingyuan chicken mating line.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present application adopts the following technical solutions: A breeding method of a new high-performance Qingyuan chicken mating line, comprising the following breeding steps: The S1 matching system is composed of: QM, QF and Y of the specialized line of Qingyuan chicken are used to form a breeding population of the matching system of the three lines of Qingyuan chicken, the specialized line QM is used as the female parent and the male parent, the specialized line QF is used as the female parent and the female parent, and Y is used as the terminal male parent; The S2 new matching system is hybridized: the male chicken of the female parent and the male parent QM is hybridized with the female chicken of the female parent and the female parent QF to obtain the F1 generation MF line, and the female chicken of the MF line is hybridized with the male chicken of the terminal male parent Y to obtain the F2 generation, that is, the new matching system of the Qingyuan chicken with high production performance; the seeds are selected according to the comprehensive index, and the seed rate is controlled.

[0007] Further, in step S1, each specialized line is bred for at least 10 generations, each generation includes 60-80 families, and the number ratio of male chickens to female chickens in each family is 1:10-15.

[0008] Further, the female chicken seed rate of each generation is 20-25%, and the male chicken seed rate is 3-8%.

[0009] Further, in step S1, the specialized line uses feather color, body weight, body shape, survival rate or reproductive performance as a breeding index, and the reproductive performance includes egg production and / or fertilization rate. The specialized line QM selects feather color, body weight, body shape and survival rate; the specialized line QF selects feather color, body shape, reproductive performance and survival rate; and the specialized line Y selects body weight, body shape and survival rate. 5. The breeding method of claim 4, wherein the specialized line QM male chicken has golden yellow neck feathers, tail feathers that are raised, black and shiny, black chest feathers without mixed feathers, golden red cape feathers that are shiny, and a trapezoidal body shape; the specialized line QF female chicken has a red and straight comb with a thick base and 5-7 comb teeth, yellow neck feathers with part black feathers, slightly raised tail feathers that are shiny, brown chest feathers, yellow hemp feathers on the back, a wedge-shaped body shape, a compact front body and a round and large rear body; and the specialized line Y male chicken has a red and straight comb with a thick base and 5-7 comb teeth, golden yellow neck feathers, tail feathers that are raised, black and shiny, black chest feathers without mixed feathers, golden yellow cape feathers that are shiny, and a wedge-shaped body shape. All the chickens are yellow shank, four-toed and thin and short.

[0010] The application of the new matching system of Qingyuan chicken with high production performance obtained by the breeding method of the new matching system of Qingyuan chicken with high production performance in poultry breeding.

[0011] According to the above technical solution, compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present application are: The breeding method of the three specialized lines of the Qingyuan chicken and the matched line established by the method is beneficial to promoting the growth and development of the Qingyuan chicken, improving the survival rate and the breeding performance of the Qingyuan chicken, and improving the production performance of the Qingyuan chicken. In the breeding process, the conventional breeding and the molecular breeding are combined, the corresponding selection target indexes are established for different lines in different stages, the original Qingyuan chicken is selected as the basis, the three specialized lines of the hybrid matched line are all derived from the Qingyuan chicken, the commercial generation of the Qingyuan chicken obtained by the hybrid matched line can better maintain the characteristics of the breed and the characteristics of the excellent meat quality, and the production performance of the commercial generation of the Qingyuan chicken is greatly improved, which is suitable for standardization scale feeding, and can effectively promote and drive the development and utilization of the Qingyuan local chicken genetic resources.

[0012] The new matched line of the Qingyuan chicken has excellent performance, high breeding performance of the parent generation of the chicken, self-differentiation of the male and the female of the commercial generation of the meat chicken, strong disease resistance, excellent meat flavor and other excellent characteristics. The appearance characteristics, production performance and meat quality characteristics of the commercial generation of the meat chicken meet the market demand in Guangdong, Hainan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and other regions and even Singapore and other overseas markets, that is, the commercial generation of the meat chicken is suitable for standardization scale feeding and also suitable for ecological breeding in the forest outside the house. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description only constitute a part of the embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained without creative labor on the basis of the provided drawings.

[0014] Figure 1 is an embodiment mode schematic diagram of the breeding method and application of the new matched line of the Qingyuan chicken with high production performance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely in combination with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments only constitute a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor are within the protection scope of the present application.

[0016] The original Qingyuan Ma chickens were collected locally in Qingyuan as breeding material. The group's physical characteristics and production performance are as follows: Roosters are characterized by a single, upright comb, a yellow beak, golden-yellow head, neck, and back feathers, black breast, belly, tail, and primary wing feathers, and maroon shoulder and saddle feathers. They have short, yellow legs, a robust build, and a symmetrical structure. Hens are characterized by a small head, a single, upright, medium-sized comb, a short, yellow beak, a wedge-shaped body, and deep yellow feathers on the front third of the head and neck. The back feathers are spotted, and the base color of the feathers is divided into three colors: yellow-spotted, brown-spotted, and tan-spotted. Newly hatched chicks have a white downy band about 4 mm wide on each side of their back feathers, which disappears after the first molt, commonly known as "frog back," a unique characteristic of Qingyuan Ma chicken chicks.

[0017] Within the original Qingyuan Ma Chicken population, individuals exhibiting the breed's physical characteristics, large size, fast growth rate, and well-developed sexual maturity traits are selected to form a group. After 12 generations of selective breeding, a specialized strain Y is formed, serving as the terminal paternal line. Individuals exhibiting the breed's physical characteristics, high uniformity in weight and shank length, and good reproductive performance are selected to form another group. After 10 generations of selective breeding, a specialized strain QM is formed, serving as the paternal line. Individuals exhibiting the breed's physical characteristics, good sexual maturity, and high egg production are selected to form another group. After 10 generations of selective breeding, a specialized strain QF is formed, serving as the maternal line. Roosters from the paternal line (QM strain) are crossed with hens from the maternal line (QF strain) to obtain the F1 generation (MF strain), also known as the parent generation. Roosters from the terminal paternal line (Y strain) are then crossed with hens from the F1 generation to obtain the F2 generation, which is the commercial generation of the local Qingyuan Ma Chicken breed.

[0018] Each specialized strain undergoes at least 10 generations of selective breeding, using plumage color, weight, body shape, survival rate, or reproductive performance as selection indicators. Reproductive performance includes egg production and / or fertilization rate. Each generation comprises 60-80 families, with a rooster-to-hen ratio of 1:10-15. The breeding rate for hens in each generation is 20.0-25.0%, and for roosters, it is 3.0%-8.0%.

[0019] The terminal parent is Y-series, with a wide trapezoidal shape.

[0020] The selection process includes the following: For chicks, select individuals with clear "frog stripes" and yellow shanks. At 5-6 weeks of age, weigh individuals on an empty stomach to calculate the average weight of the group and the average weight of the family. For roosters, select individuals within ±15% of the average weight for breeding; for hens, select individuals between 5% below and 15% above the average weight. Finally, on-site selection is conducted based on individual plumage color, feather fullness, comb shape, and other physical characteristics. At 10 weeks of age, selection is primarily focused on roosters, emphasizing the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Individuals with tall, upright combs and thick comb bases are selected for breeding, while underweight individuals are culled. At 16-18 weeks of age, select individuals from families with high weight, uniformity, and survival rates, while also considering physical characteristics. Selection criteria for physical characteristics include comb height, comb shape, and shank length. Individuals that do not conform to the physical characteristics of Qingyuan Ma chickens are culled. For hens, select individuals with large, red, and upright combs, and those with glossy feathers, compact bodies, and a refined appearance. Individuals aged 20-22 weeks are removed from the breed due to poor appearance, development, or weak constitution, and those testing positive for avian leukosis are also culled. For roosters and hens, selection is based on a comprehensive assessment of weight and egg production performance at 6-15 weeks of age, retaining individuals from families with the highest selection criteria and removing those due to poor appearance, development, or weak constitution.

[0021] The terminal paternal line (Y line) primarily selects for body shape, weight, shank length, growth rate, and sexual maturity. Body shape selection is mainly based on individual breeding. Chicks are primarily characterized by "one brown and two yellow," with brown down feathers all over the body, a white downy band about 4 mm wide on each side of the back feathers, and yellow beaks and shanks. Adult chickens have small heads and large, upright combs; hens have small heads, yellow feathers at the base of the neck with many black patches, and both roosters and hen have rounded scales on their legs, with the inner sides of the primary and secondary wing feathers mostly black, and black tail feathers. The body shape of roosters and hen conforms to the characteristics of "one mottled, two yellow, two slender, three short," meaning hens have mottled feathers, roosters and hen have yellow beaks and legs, slender heads and legs, and short necks, short bodies, and short legs. Adult roosters, after training, have strong sexual reflexes and good semen quality. Individuals with high fertilization rates are selected for breeding based on records of breeding stock and hatching, continuing the selection process for the next generation. The traits of weight, shank length, and growth rate were selected primarily through individual selection, combined with family averages. Inbreeding was avoided during the selection process, and variability in pullorum disease and leukosis were also addressed. After 12 generations of selection, adult roosters reached a weight of 3.0 kg, and hens reached 2 kg. They exhibited rapid growth, stable production performance, and consistent body shape and appearance, possessing the characteristics of the Qingyuan Ma Chicken local breed.

[0022] Individuals from the QM paternal lineage with high body weight, high uniformity, and high survival rate were selected. The selection process includes the following: chicks with clear "frog stripes" and yellow shanks are selected, and weak chicks, individuals with undesirable plumage or genetic defects are culled; at 5-6 weeks of age, each chick is weighed on an empty stomach, and the family average and group average are calculated, taking into account the weight and uniformity of offspring, and individuals within ±10% of the average weight are selected, and further selection is made based on individual appearance traits such as plumage and comb shape; at 10 weeks of age, roosters are selected primarily for precocious traits, and individuals with upright combs and thick comb bases are selected, and male and female body types are initially selected, culling individuals that are too large. At 17 weeks of age, the focus is on selecting heel circumference, heel length, and comb height. At 20 weeks of age, an egg production record measurement group is established. The initial selection of hens is screened for feather color and body shape, and individuals that meet the breed standards are selected. The initial selection of roosters is comprehensively selected based on body shape and appearance, and the semen quality of each rooster is tested. Individuals with dead sperm, low sperm count, or low sperm motility are eliminated, and family information is recorded. Roosters with high combs, straight combs, feather color that meets the requirements, yellow shanks, and short, thin shanks are kept for breeding. At 43 weeks of age, the age at first laying of each individual, broodiness of hens, and number of eggs laid at 43 weeks of age are recorded. The average number of eggs laid by each family, the fertilization rate of hatching eggs, and the hatching rate of fertilized eggs are calculated. Based on the age at first laying and the number of eggs laid at 43 weeks of age, a breeding method combining family selection and individual selection was used to select male and female hens. At the same time, considering the broodiness of the hens, full-sibling males of individuals with strong broodiness were removed. The selected male and female hens were then used to form new families according to the non-inbreeding family breeding method for the next generation of breeding.

[0023] The paternal line (QM line) primarily selects for body conformation, flock uniformity (weight and shank length), and reproductive performance. Inbreeding is avoided during the selection process, and variability due to pullorum disease and leukosis is addressed. Body conformation selection is mainly based on individual selection within the family, with both roosters and hens conforming to the "one wedge, two slender, three speckled" characteristics. Flock uniformity (weight and shank length) is primarily based on individual selection, combined with family averages. Adult roosters reach a weight of 2.5 kg, and hens 1.8 kg, with 10% weight uniformity controlled above 84% and shank length uniformity controlled above 94%. Reproductive performance is primarily selected based on egg production at 43 and 66 weeks of age, primarily through family selection, combined with individual egg production data. After 10 generations of selection, the body conformation is consistent, meeting breed characteristics, and the body weight at 56 days of age and egg production at 43 and 66 weeks of age have been steadily improved.

[0024] The maternal QF line selects families with good reproductive performance, high uniformity, and high survival rate. The selection process includes the following: Chicks with obvious mottled feathers and slow feathering are selected, and their initial weight is recorded. Other individuals with different feather colors, weak plumage, or genetic defects are culled. At 6 weeks of age, each chick is weighed on an empty stomach, and the family and strain averages are calculated. Chicks are ranked by weight (male and female), and individuals within ±10% of the average weight are selected. Based on maternal breeding requirements, offspring weight and uniformity are considered, along with individual plumage color, comb type, and other physical traits for on-site selection. At 10 weeks of age, roosters are not prioritized for early maturity; individuals with upright, thick combs are selected. Initial body size selection is conducted for both males and females, culling oversized individuals. At 17 weeks of age, selection is primarily based on body size, plumage color, feather gloss, and sexual maturity. At 20 weeks of age, an egg production record measurement group was established. Phenotypic selection of hens based on feather color and body shape was conducted, and individuals whose weight was outside the average weight range of ±25% were culled. Body size traits were also considered, and individuals that met the breed standards were selected. Roosters were comprehensively selected based on body shape and appearance, and the semen quality of each rooster was tested. Roosters with high combs, straight combs, slender shanks, feather and shank colors that met the requirements, and excellent semen quality were retained for breeding. At 43 weeks of age, the age at first laying and the number of eggs laid at 43 weeks of age were recorded. The average number of eggs laid by each family was calculated, and the fertilization rate and hatchability of hatching eggs were calculated. Based on data on the age at first egg production and egg production at 43 weeks of age, a breeding method combining family selection and individual selection was used to select male and female hens. The selected male and female hens were screened for broodiness, and full-sib individuals with strong broodiness were eliminated. The final selected male and female hens were used to form new families using non-inbreeding family breeding methods. At 66 weeks of age, the next generation was selected based on the total egg production at 66 weeks of age.

[0025] The maternal line (QF line) primarily selects for body shape, sexual maturity, and reproductive performance. Inbreeding is avoided during the selection process, and variability due to pullorum disease and leukosis is addressed. Body shape selection is mainly based on individual selection, with both male and female hens conforming to the "one wedge, two slender, three speckled" characteristics. Population evenness (weight and shank length) traits are primarily selected based on individual traits, combined with family averages, with the top 10% weight evenness controlled above 85% and shank length evenness controlled above 95%. Reproductive performance is mainly selected based on age at first egg production, egg production at 43 weeks, and egg production at 66 weeks, primarily based on family selection, combined with individual egg production data. After 10 generations of selection, the body shape is consistent, conforming to breed characteristics, and the uniformity of age at first egg production and egg production at 43 and 66 weeks have been steadily improved.

[0026] S1 breeding system composition: The breeding population of the three Qingyuan chicken breeds is formed by using the specialized Qingyuan Ma chicken breeds QM, QF and Y. The specialized Qingyuan Ma chicken breed QM is used as the maternal paternal line, QF is used as the maternal maternal line, and Y is used as the terminal paternal line. Each specialized breed undergoes at least 10 generations of selection, with each generation comprising 60-80 families. The ratio of roosters to hens in each family is 1:10-15. The breeding rate of hens in each generation is 20-25%, while the breeding rate of roosters is 3-8%.

[0027] S2 New Breeding Line Hybridization: The F1 generation MF line is obtained by crossing roosters with maternal paternal line QM with hen with maternal paternal line QF. The F2 generation is obtained by crossing MF line hens with roosters with terminal paternal line Y. This is the new breeding line of high-production-performance Qingyuan chicken. Breeding selection is carried out according to comprehensive indicators to control the retention rate.

[0028] like Figure 1 The diagram shows a schematic representation of a breeding method and application embodiment of a new high-performance Qingyuan chicken breeding line according to the present invention. Based on the original Qingyuan Ma chicken breed, three specialized lines with distinct characteristics were selected through generational breeding according to the method described in this invention. The Y line, characterized by large body weight and fast growth rate, was selected as the terminal paternal line; the QM line, characterized by large body weight and good reproductive performance, was selected as the paternal line; and the QF line, characterized by fast growth and high egg production, was selected as the maternal line. Each line underwent more than 10 generations of selection, and the production performance is shown in Table 1.

[0029] Table 1. Production performance of three specialized strains during the breeding process of the new Qingyuan chicken breeding system.

[0030] The offspring F1 (MF) obtained by crossing the selected paternal line (QM line) roosters and maternal line (QF line) hens are the parent generation. The offspring F2 obtained by crossing the terminal paternal line (Y line) roosters with the parent generation (MF group) hens are the commercial generation of the new Qingyuan chicken breeding line. The production performance of the parent generation and the commercial generation are shown in Tables 2 and 3.

[0031] Table 2 Production performance of parent breeder chickens in the new Qingyuan chicken breeding line

[0032] Table 3 Production performance of commercial broiler chickens from the new Qingyuan chicken breeding line

[0033] Compared to the original Qingyuan Ma chicken breed, the commercial Qingyuan chickens obtained through the breeding method and application of the new high-performance Qingyuan chicken breeding system described in this invention have a consistent body shape and appearance, similar to the original Qingyuan Ma chicken breed and conforming to the breed characteristics. They have bright red, large, and upright combs, yellow shanks and beaks, slender legs, and glossy mottled feathers, exhibiting high uniformity in appearance and weight. Simultaneously, production performance has been greatly improved. Roosters are marketed at 90 days old, weighing 1.7-1.8 kg; hens are marketed at 120 days old, weighing 1.8-1.9 kg. Parent hens entering the coop at 66 weeks of age lay 170-175 eggs. During the breeding process, through enhanced purification of pullorum disease and avian leukosis, the positive rate of pullorum disease in each strain is less than 1%, and the positive rate of leukosis is less than 0.5%.

[0034] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for breeding a new high-performance Qingyuan chicken breeding line, characterized in that, The following breeding steps are included: S1 breeding system composition: The breeding population of the three Qingyuan chicken breeds is formed by using the specialized Qingyuan Ma chicken breeds QM, QF and Y. The specialized Qingyuan Ma chicken breed QM is used as the maternal paternal line, QF is used as the maternal maternal line, and Y is used as the terminal paternal line. S2 New Breeding Line Hybridization: The F1 generation MF line is obtained by crossing roosters with maternal paternal line QM with hen with maternal paternal line QF. The F2 generation is obtained by crossing MF line hens with roosters with terminal paternal line Y. This is the new breeding line of high-production-performance Qingyuan chicken. Breeding selection is carried out according to comprehensive indicators to control the retention rate.

2. The breeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, each specialized strain is bred through at least 10 generations, with each generation including 60-80 families, and the ratio of roosters to hens in each family being 1:10-15.

3. The breeding method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The retention rate for breeding hens in each generation is 20-25%, while the retention rate for roosters is 3-8%.

4. The breeding method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S1, the specialized strain uses feather color, weight, body size, survival rate or reproductive performance as selection indicators, and reproductive performance includes egg production and / or fertilization rate. The specialized strain QM is selected based on plumage color, weight, body size, and survival rate; the specialized strain QF is selected based on plumage color, body size, reproductive performance, and survival rate; and the specialized strain Y is selected based on weight, body size, and survival rate.

5. The breeding method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The specialized strain QM rooster has golden-yellow neck feathers, upturned, black, and glossy tail feathers, black breast feathers without any other feathers, and golden-red, glossy plumage feathers; it has a trapezoidal body shape. The specialized strain QF hen has a rosy, upright comb with a thick base and 5-7 serrations; yellow neck feathers with some black feathers; slightly upturned, glossy tail feathers; brown breast feathers; yellow-brown back feathers; a wedge-shaped body with a compact forequarter and a rounded hindquarter. The specialized strain Y rooster has a rosy, upright comb with a thick base and 5-7 serrations; golden-yellow neck feathers; upturned, black, and glossy tail feathers; black breast feathers without any other feathers; golden-yellow, glossy plumage feathers; and a wedge-shaped body shape. All chickens have yellow shanks, four toes, and short, thin toes.

6. The application of the new Qingyuan chicken breeding line obtained by any of the breeding methods described in claims 1-5 in poultry farming.

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