Genetic parameters of feeding behaviour traits in ducks bred for foie gras production

• Published in: Animal (Cambridge, England) England), 2024-08, Vol.18 (8), p.101234, Article 101234
• Main Authors: Chapuis, H., Lagüe, M., Bonnefont, CMD, David, I., Bernadet, M.-D., Hazard, A., Gilbert, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animal genetics; Animals; Automatic feeder; Breeding; Carcass composition; Ducks - genetics; Ducks - physiology; Fatty liver; Feed efficiency; Feeding Behavior; Female; Genetics; Hybrid Vigor; Life Sciences; Male
• ISSN: 1751-7311; 1751-732X; 1751-732X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101234

•Defining sustainable selection criteria for foie gras production is a complex task.•Feeding behavioural traits are heritable in the parental populations of the hybrid.•Joint crossbred models were used to address the hybrid performances.•Sire and dam pathways have different contributions to the hybrid performances.•Time-related feeding traits are relevant to improve mule duck fatty liver weight. The mule duck accounts for over 90% of French foie gras production, a sector where feed represents two-thirds of production costs. This study focuses on analysing the feeding behaviours of the mule duck and its parental populations (Pekin and Muscovy) using automated feeders. To assess feed efficiency, feed conversion ratio and residual feed intake were analysed, along with six traits derived at the daily and meal levels. Genetic parameters were estimated separately in purebred populations, as well as with a joint crossbred model that estimated the parental contributions to the hybrid crossbred performances. In relation to higher feed intakes and much−reduced feeding times (P