Age-regulated expression of genetic and environmental variation in fitness traits. 1. Genetic effects and variances for egg production in a factorial mating of six selected Leghorn strains

Abstract

White Leghorn strains were crossed reciprocally in a complete factorial mating system producing 6 pure strains and 30 strain-crosses, which were kept in individual cages for two laying cycles, 133–496 and 547–909 d of age. The egg production in the second cycle (C2) of the various genotypes started about 10 – 20% lower and had a more linear and less persistent course than in the first cycle (C1). Strains exhibited very different patterns of age changes in both additive and non-additive genetic effects as well as in cytoplasmic effects. The additive autosomal and sex-linked genes (Ai and Zi) active in one laying cycle were quite different from those active in the other laying cycle as shown by low strain genetic correlations between their effects in C1 and C2. Further, the sets of Ai and Zi genes responded with effects quite opposite to each other in both C1 and C2 as indicated by highly negative strain genetic correlations between the Ai and Zi effects. The average non-additive genetic effect of sire strain i or dam strain j over all its crosses with other strains (hi) and the non-additive genetic effect due to the specific combination of genes occurring in each of the two reciprocal crosses between strain i and strain j (sij), showed very divergent patterns of age changes with a conspicuously greater divergence as age advanced. The overall non-additive genetic effect (mean heterosis) increased significantly with age across the two cycles. The strain crosses that most successfully maintained their rate of lay until the end of C2, also most successfully developed a rising age trend for total heterosis. The non-additive genes active in one laying cycle were significantly different from those active in the other laying cycle as shown by the moderately low strain genetic correlations between their effects in C1 and C2. The genotypic variance and its various components increased markedly with age, however, with a tendency to reach a plateau towards the end of both the first and the second laying cycle. The environmental variance increased parallel to the genotypic variance. Consequently, the phenotypic variance followed the same pattern of age changes. The results are discussed in relation to the theoretical aspects of ageing genetics. A model compatible with all the age trends of the genetic and environmental effects and variances is set up, assuming that ageing is composed of two main opposing forces. Finally, the results are briefly discussed from the animal breeding point of view. Key words: Ageing, fitness, laying hens, genetic effects, variation, expression