Effects of divergent selection for primary antibody titers against sheep red blood cells on some immunological and productive performance of chickens [electronic resouce].

Includes references.

Three lines of Fayoumi chickens were immunized against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) antigens, at 40 weeks of age. Two lines were divergently selected for high (H-line) and low (L-line) antibody response to SRBC at 50 days of age for four generations. The third was a random bred line, and served as a control (C-line). Data were collected during the period from the onset of production to 45 weeks of age on the parents stock, and the first three weeks of age on their progeny. Antibody titers against SRBC and NDV antigens in hens and their progeny of the three lines were obtained. Hen-day egg production, egg weight, fertility and hatchability were also evaluated. The results indicated that the H-line had the highest secondary immune response to both SRBC and NDV antigens. This in turn enhanced the amount of antibodies transferred from the hens to their progeny. The divergent selection for primary antibody titers against SRBC did not influence the hen-day egg production. However, the L-line produced significantly heavier eggs than the H-line, and had significantly higher fertility and hatchability than the C-line. It could be concluded that antibody response to SRBC antigen could be included in selection indices as a selection criteria. This is to produce commercial chicken strains that are more immune responsive.

Summary in Arabic.

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