Effects of Genetic Variations in the FGFBP2 Gene on Growth Indicators and Production Efficiency in Broiler Chickens

A 100 Ross 308-type broiler birds were raised in the College of Agriculture, University of Anbar fields for 42 days, and 60 were selected at the end of the feeding period. Blood samples were taken from the birds by slicing the jugular vein, and the slaughtering process was accomplished. The blood samples were transferred to the molecular genetics laboratories in Baghdad to obtain DNA to determine the phenotype of the FGFBP2 gene. The gene was identified in experimental birds based on the bands resulting from DNA relocation. The genetic phenotypes were determined using PCR-RFLP technology and the Alu 1 restriction enzyme based on the size of the fragments obtained from the FGFBP2 gene. They comprised CC, CD, and DD with allelic frequencies of 26.67, 51.66, and 21.67, respectively and with C and D allelic frequencies of 0.53 and 0.4y, respectively. Birds carrying the DD genotype were superior in breast weight traits of the FGFBP2 gene at 17.484±0.640 compared to CC and CD genotypes at 15.608±0.530 and 15.929±0.503, respectively. A study of the FGFBP2 gene sequences showed 65% substitution mutations in the nitrogenous base sequence of the broiler samples. The study aimed to identify the relationship between the genotypes and the allelic frequencies of the FGFBP2 gene with carcass traits (carcass weight, covering percentage, and weights of the breast, thigh, and thigh pieces) of broiler chickens and the possibility of genetic improvement to obtain the most economically viable characteristics