The Rate of Weight Gain and Productivity of a Chicken Broiler Cross with Various Polymorphic Types of the Myostatin Gene

Abstract—The search for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the myostatin gene is a promising direction of research as this gene is involved in the development of important biological and productive traits in chickens. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP), allele and genotype frequencies were analyzed in the Cornish chicken breed, line G5, cross Smena-8. Two pairs of primers allowing the PCR product to be obtained in the myostatin gene were used. Two single nucleotide substitutions in exon 1 of the myostatin gene were considered: G/A in position MST2109 and G/С in position MST2244. A significant predominance of deoxynucleotide G over C in MST2244 and deoxynucleotide A over G in MST2109 was observed. No differences in the productive traits between genotypes for MST2109 were detected. The analysis of the allelic variability for locus MST2244 showed statistically significant differences in the weight of live chicken at the age of seven days between the CC and G₂G₂ genotypes (p < 0.01) and CG₂ and G₂G₂ (p < 0.05). G₂G₂ individuals (203.52 g) were significantly heavier than the CC (179.5 g) and CG₂ (193.95 g) chickens at the age of sevendays. Statistically significant differences between the CC and G₂G₂ genotypes in live weight at the age of 33 days were revealed (p < 0.05). Thus, this research made it possible to estimate allele frequencies in the myostatin gene in line G5 of the Cornish breed. The results obtained will allow taking into account particular chicken genotypes for the myostatin gene for accelerating the breeding process in the broiler poultry industry.