Using major genes to mitigate the deleterious effects of heat stress in poultry: an updated review

Abstract

Acceleration of global warming has emerged as one of the biggest environmental challenges facing poultry farming. In heat stressed flocks, massive mortality rates and substantial damage to productive performance (eggs and meat) are commonly noticed. Because birds do not have sweat glands, they cannot tolerate high temperatures, especially when combined with high humidity. Under this harsh environmental condition, the birds reduce their feed consumption to decline metabolic energy rate. At an ambient temperature of more than 26°C, the bird increases panting and reduces metabolic rate to get rid of the body's heat increment. There are many scenarios that can be followed to alleviate the adverse effects of heat stress. Management practices, nutritional modification, and/or feed additives are frequently used in poultry farms. However, introducing major genes such as naked neck (Na), frizzle (F), slow feathering (K), and dwarf (dw) could be adopted as a significant solution to improve productive performance in birds raised under high environmental temperatures. The birds carrying these mutations gain popularity owing to their ornamental appearance and highly productive performance at high temperatures. Moreover, utilizing dwarf gene in broiler breeders as a dam line improves adaptability, survivability, and hatchability in flocks kept in hot climates. At hatch, the sex-linked slow feathering mutation has been widely used for wing sexing in some egg-type breeds. The potential use of major genes as a breeding strategy to enhance heat tolerance in chickens has been extensively reviewed.

Keywords: dwarf; frizzle; major gene; naked neck; slow feathering.