Selection for environmental variance of litter size in rabbits
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Autor/a
Blasco, Agustín
Martínez‑Álvaro, Marina
García, Maria‑Luz
Ibáñez‑Escriche, Noelia
Argente, María‑José
Fecha de publicación
2017-05-22ISSN
0999-193X
Resumen
Background
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the genetic determination of environmental variance. In the case of litter size, environmental variance can be related to the capacity of animals to adapt to new environmental conditions, which can improve animal welfare.
Results
We developed a ten-generation divergent selection experiment on environmental variance. We selected one line of rabbits for litter size homogeneity and one line for litter size heterogeneity by measuring intra-doe phenotypic variance. We proved that environmental variance of litter size is genetically determined and can be modified by selection. Response to selection was 4.5% of the original environmental variance per generation. Litter size was consistently higher in the Low line than in the High line during the entire experiment.
Conclusions
We conclude that environmental variance of litter size is genetically determined based on the results of our divergent selection experiment. This has implications for animal welfare, since animals that cope better with their environment have better welfare than more sensitive animals. We also conclude that selection for reduced environmental variance of litter size does not depress litter size.
Tipo de documento
Artículo
Versión del documento
Versión publicada
Lengua
English
Materias (CDU)
633 - Cultivos y producciones
Páginas
8
Publicado por
BMC
Publicado en
Genetics Selection Evolution
Citación
Blasco, Agustín, Marina Martínez-Álvaro, Maria-Luz García, Noelia Ibáñez-Escriche, and María-José Argente. 2017. "Selection For Environmental Variance Of Litter Size In Rabbits". Genetics Selection Evolution 49 (1). doi:10.1186/s12711-017-0323-4.
Número del acuerdo de la subvención
MINECO/Programa Estatal de fomento de la investigación científica y técnica de excelencia/AGL2014-55921-C2-1-P/ES/ESTUDIO GENOMICO Y METABOLOMICO DE VARIAS LINEAS DE SELECCION DIVERGENTE EN CONEJO: EL CONEJO COMO MODELO EXPERIMENTAL/
MINECO/Programa Estatal de fomento de la investigación científica y técnica de excelencia/AGL2014-55921-C2-2-P/ES/ANALISIS GENOMICO DE LA VARIANZA RESIDUAL DEL TAMAÑO DE CAMADA Y SU RELACION CON EL BIENESTAR ANIMAL/
Program
Genètica i Millora Animal
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