Correlation analysis of isozyme polymorphism, growing traits and phosphorus utilization in Cobb 500 cross broiler chicks

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine whether there are any relations among the genotype, phosphorus digestibility and body weight in broiler chicks of Cobb 500 cross. The diet of the experimental group was supplemented with 150 g/t of the enzyme phytase. Body weight was measured once a week from 14 to 49 days of age. The genetic uniformity of the control and experimental groups was determined by protein polymorphism analysis. The ANOVA linear models showed a significant linkage between the G6PD-4 locus phenotype and phosphorus utilization (p < 0.01). In the experimental group, broiler chicks with AA or BB phenotypes utilized by about 5–8% more of phosphorus as compared with the mean value of the control group. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was found between chickens with a different MDH-2 phenotype and BW in all stages of measuring after phytase had been added to their diet. Homozygous AA and heterozygous AB individuals in the experimental group showed the highest BW and P digestibility Keywords: broilers, biochemical polymorphism, phytase, phosphorus