Increasing the sustainability of tropical poultry production using Spirulina as an alternative feedstuff and the naked neck plumage genotype”

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The naked neck gene in the domestic chicken: A genetic strategy to mitigate the impact of heat stress in poultry production—A review

Publication . Fernandes, Elisabete; Raymundo, Anabela; Martins, Luisa Louro; Lordelo, Madalena; Almeida, André M. de

The poultry sector is one of the most important food industries in the world. Poultry production generates high-value protein products (meat and eggs) that are produced efficiently without the need for large areas. In poultry production, especially in the tropics, environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, play a major role. Heat stress (HS) causes behavioral, physical, and physiological changes in poultry, with severe financial impacts. Therefore, it is important to find strategies to minimize it. The naked neck (Na) is an autosomal, incompletely dominant gene. Compared with normal feathered birds, these animals are known for their ability to adapt, perform, and reproduce under hot and humid climate conditions. Due to the absence of feathers on the neck, these animals increase heat dissipation, alleviating adverse heat effects, especially on productive performance. Genetic improvement of heat tolerance may provide a low-cost solution, of particular interest for developing countries in the tropics. The focus of this review is to evaluate the impact of HS in poultry with a special emphasis on the advantages of using the Na gene.

2023-03Artigo científico

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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Número da atribuição

UI/BD/151166/2021