Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Artificial selection for improved energy efficiency is reaching its limits in broiler chickens.


ABSTRACT: Modern broiler chickens are a major animal husbandry success story, both in terms of efficient resource utilisation and environmental sustainability. However, continuing artificial selection for both efficiency and rapid growth will be subject to both biological limits and animal welfare concerns. Using a novel analytical energy flow modelling approach, we predict how far such selection can go, given the biological limits of bird energy intake and partitioning of energy. We find that the biological potential for further improvements in efficiency, and hence environmental impact reduction, is minimal relative to past progress already made via artificial selection. An alternative breeding strategy to produce slower-growing birds to meet new welfare standards increases environmental burdens, compared to current birds. This unique analytic approach provides biologically sound guidelines for strategic planning of sustainable broiler production.

SUBMITTER: Tallentire CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5773546 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

altmetric image

Publications

Artificial selection for improved energy efficiency is reaching its limits in broiler chickens.

Tallentire C W CW   Leinonen I I   Kyriazakis I I  

Scientific reports 20180118 1


Modern broiler chickens are a major animal husbandry success story, both in terms of efficient resource utilisation and environmental sustainability. However, continuing artificial selection for both efficiency and rapid growth will be subject to both biological limits and animal welfare concerns. Using a novel analytical energy flow modelling approach, we predict how far such selection can go, given the biological limits of bird energy intake and partitioning of energy. We find that the biologi  ...[more]

Similar Datasets

2015-06-28 | E-GEOD-65578 | biostudies-arrayexpress
2015-06-28 | GSE65578 | GEO
| S-EPMC5650139 | biostudies-literature
2015-06-28 | E-GEOD-65571 | biostudies-arrayexpress
2015-06-28 | E-GEOD-65572 | biostudies-arrayexpress
| S-EPMC7759651 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC7936194 | biostudies-literature
2015-06-28 | GSE65571 | GEO
2015-06-28 | GSE65572 | GEO
| S-EPMC8066069 | biostudies-literature