Potential of Genomic Breeding Program in Iranian Native Chickens

Development of genomic selection can be a new strategy in breeding of native chicken. The main aim of this study was to evaluate application of a genomic selection program in Iranian native chickens from economic and genetic points of view. In this study, two scenarios including conventional scenario with 3360 and 3380 animals and genomic scenario were compared using ZPLAN+ software. The traits in the selection index were egg number, body weight, mean weight of egg and age at sexual maturity. In genomic scenario different reference population size were considered. In this scenario the genomic information from cocks (800 cocks were genotyped) was added to available information in conventional scenario based on selection index method. The generation interval was 14.5 months for all conventional and genomic scenarios. In comparison of scenarios, genetic gain and the economic profit increased by increasing reference population size in genomic scenario (€126.88-€147.45 with 80 cocks) and (€140.20 to €160.77 with 60 cocks) per animal unit. The reliability of selection index was 0.33 for cocks in conventional scenario. The reliabilities of genomic scenarios were 0.61-0.84 for 80 selected cocks and 0.66-0.87 for 60 selected cocks and that were high in comparison to conventional scenario. This study showed that genomic selection can increase the genetic improvement rate of native chickens. However, the costs of genomic scenarios were higher than conventional scenario, but genomic information increased accuracy of selection and genetic gain in breeding goals traits.