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. 2018 Jan 18;8(1):1168.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19231-2.

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

C W Tallentire  1 , I Leinonen  2   3 , I Kyriazakis  2
Affiliations

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

C W Tallentire et al. Sci Rep. .

Erratum in

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The average daily feed intake of a current fast-growing broiler (formula image) and the potential average daily feed intake defined by the apparent biological limit of feed intake (broken line). Based on the data presented by Leeson et al..
Figure 2
Figure 2
The growth rate of a current fast-growing broiler (formula image) and the potential growth rate of future birds as defined by the different scenarios accessed; maximum energy efficiency (broken line) and increased welfare scenario (formula image).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The environmental impact implications associated with feed provision for one broiler of each scenario grown to 2.2 kg. (a) shows greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 eqv.) and (b) shows the agricultural land use (m2). The following scenarios are presented: current fast-growing birds, maximum energy efficiency birds and slow-growing increased welfare birds placed on a standard feed, as well as slow-growing increased welfare birds placed on an alternative feed formulated specifically for the slow-growing line.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), that are expected to be excreted when one broiler is raised to 2.2 kg slaughter weight. The following scenarios are presented: current fast-growing birds, maximum energy efficiency birds and slow-growing increased welfare birds placed on a standard feed, as well as slow-growing increased welfare birds placed on an alternative feed formulated specifically for the slow-growing line.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The components of energy flow through a broiler chicken.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Mussini, F. J. Comparative response of different broiler genotypes to dietary levels, University of Arkansas (2012).

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