Genetic analysis of clutch and pause traits and the association between a 1-d pause and egg quality in Rhode Island Red hens
- 1Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- 2Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
- 3Beijing Huadu Yukou Poultry Industry Co., Ltd., Beijing, 101206, China
Abstract
The objective of this study was to characterize the genetic basis of clutch and pause traits in a Rhode Island Red population and also to evaluate the association between a single 1-d pause and egg quality. In total, 4,701 hens were used for genetic analyses. Daily egg records from 17 to 100 wk of age were used to derive age at first egg (AFE), total number of saleable eggs (gEggs), maximum clutch length (maxC), average clutch length (avgC), maximum pause length (maxP), average pause length (avgP), number of pauses (numP), average clutch length to 45 wk of age (avgC45wk), and average clutch length to 90 wk of age (avgC90wk). Heritability and phenotypic correlations were estimated for the 4,701 hens, and genetic correlations and genome-wide association analysis were performed using quality-controlled 50 K SNP genotypes. The estimated heritability was 0.402 ± 0.033 for AFE, 0.198 ± 0.027 for gEggs, 0.169 ± 0.027 for maxC, 0.177 ± 0.025 for avgC, 0.183 ± 0.026 for maxP, 0.101 ± 0.022 for avgP, 0.261 ± 0.030 for numP, 0.125 ± 0.023 for avgC45wk, and 0.188 ± 0.025 for avgC90wk. The numP was negatively genetically correlated with gEggs, maxC, and avgC, whereas avgC45wk was positively genetically correlated with gEggs and avgC90wk. Genome-wide association analysis identified one suggestive SNP associated with avgP on chromosome 4 and two significant SNPs associated with numP on chromosome 7, and this QTL region included ACVR2A, ORC4, and MBD5 genes. Of 258 hens undergoing longitudinal monitoring throughout 87–91 wk, 71 experienced one 1-d pause; trait-specific paired egg-quality analyses included 42–56 individuals. The results showed that Haugh unit, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness were increased, whereas egg weight and eggshell lightness were decreased after 1-d pause. The study provided basic genetic parameter evaluation for clutch and pause traits in a large RIR population, and also indicated that a naturally occurring single 1-d pause was associated with higher Haugh unit, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness during the late laying period.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic analysis of clutch and pause traits and the association between a 1-d pause and egg quality in Rhode Island Red hens}},
author = {Jizhou Yang and Yiyuan Yan and Junfeng Wu and Ling Lian},
journal = {Poultry Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107939},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107939},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genetic analysis of clutch and pause traits and the association between a 1-d pause and egg quality in Rhode Island Red hens
AU - Jizhou Yang
AU - Yiyuan Yan
AU - Junfeng Wu
AU - Ling Lian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/10
JO - Poultry Science
DO - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107939
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107939
AB - The objective of this study was to characterize the genetic basis of clutch and pause traits in a Rhode Island Red population and also to evaluate the association between a single 1-d pause and egg quality. In total, 4,701 hens were used for genetic analyses. Daily egg records from 17 to 100 wk of age were used to derive age at first egg (AFE), total number of saleable eggs (gEggs), maximum clutch length (maxC), average clutch length (avgC), maximum pause length (maxP), average pause length (avgP), number of pauses (numP), average clutch length to 45 wk of age (avgC45wk), and average clutch length to 90 wk of age (avgC90wk). Heritability and phenotypic correlations were estimated for the 4,701 hens, and genetic correlations and genome-wide association analysis were performed using quality-controlled 50 K SNP genotypes. The estimated heritability was 0.402 ± 0.033 for AFE, 0.198 ± 0.027 for gEggs, 0.169 ± 0.027 for maxC, 0.177 ± 0.025 for avgC, 0.183 ± 0.026 for maxP, 0.101 ± 0.022 for avgP, 0.261 ± 0.030 for numP, 0.125 ± 0.023 for avgC45wk, and 0.188 ± 0.025 for avgC90wk. The numP was negatively genetically correlated with gEggs, maxC, and avgC, whereas avgC45wk was positively genetically correlated with gEggs and avgC90wk. Genome-wide association analysis identified one suggestive SNP associated with avgP on chromosome 4 and two significant SNPs associated with numP on chromosome 7, and this QTL region included ACVR2A, ORC4, and MBD5 genes. Of 258 hens undergoing longitudinal monitoring throughout 87–91 wk, 71 experienced one 1-d pause; trait-specific paired egg-quality analyses included 42–56 individuals. The results showed that Haugh unit, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness were increased, whereas egg weight and eggshell lightness were decreased after 1-d pause. The study provided basic genetic parameter evaluation for clutch and pause traits in a large RIR population, and also indicated that a naturally occurring single 1-d pause was associated with higher Haugh unit, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness during the late laying period.
SN - 0032-5791
SN - 1525-3171
ER -