ASSOCIATION OF GROWTH RATE AND GENE EXPRESSION OF GROWTH-RELATED GENES IN TWO COMMERCIAL BROILER STRAINS

To investigate whether a variation in the body weight gain is associated with gene expression of growth-related genes, (insulin like growth factor (IGF-I) and growth hormone (GH) profile in broilers, to genetic evaluation of body weight gain of two broiler commercial Ross and Arbo acres broiler strain by comparing gene expression of Growth Hormones and Insulin-like Growth Factor were conducted with 1000 newly hatched Ross and Arbo acres in a Poultry Breeding Farm, Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shalakan under standard management. Body weight and body weight gain were recorded for all broiler birds that were reared. At 28 days of age, six samples from each replication were chosen at random from each strain for the gene expression analysis. Results showed that both body weight and total weight gain were highly significant (P<0.01) in Ross broilers compared to Arbo Acres broiler strains. Additionally, an increased gene expression of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) was observed in heavy and higher-weight gain strains (Ross strains) (P < 0.01), relative to lighter and slower-weight gain strains (Arbo Acres strains). The heavy weight is linked to the gene expression (IGF-I) in broiler chickens. These parameters could be employed to select breeding programs for enhanced growth based on the gene expression level of the genes responsible for weight body