Genetic Architecture of Abdominal Fat Deposition Revealed by a Genome-Wide Association Study in the Laying Chicken

Abstract

Fat has a high energy density, and excessive fatness has been recognized as a problem for egg production and the welfare of chickens. The identification of a genetic polymorphism controlling fat deposition would be helpful to select against excessive fatness in the laying hen. This study aimed to estimate genomic heritability and identify the genetic architecture of abdominal fat deposition in a population of chickens from a Dongxiang blue-shelled local breed crossbred with the White Leghorn. A genome-wide association study was conducted on abdominal fat percentage, egg production and body weights using a sample of 1534 hens genotyped with a 600 K Chicken Genotyping Array. The analysis yielded a heritability estimate of 0.19 ± 0.04 for abdominal fat percentage; 0.56 ± 0.04 for body weight at 72 weeks; 0.11 ± 0.03 for egg production; and 0.24 ± 0.04 for body weight gain. The genetic correlation of abdominal fat percentage with egg production between 60 and 72 weeks of age was −0.35 ± 0.18. This implies a potential trade-off between these two traits related to the allocation of resources. Strong positive genetic correlations were found between fat deposition and weight traits. A promising locus close to COL12A1 on chromosome 3, associated with abdominal fat percent, was found in the present study. Another region located around HTR2A on chromosome 1, where allele substitution was predicted to be associated with body weight gain, accounted for 2.9% of phenotypic variance. Another region located on chromosome 1, but close to SOX5, was associated with egg production. These results may be used to influence the balanced genetic selection for laying hens.