Association of microsatellites with pre-housing body weights and age at sexual maturity of Rhode Island Red chicken

Present study was aimed to investigate microsatellites for their association with pre-housing body weights and age at sexual maturity of RIR chicken. Genomic DNA samples were isolated from 114 birds maintained at institute. PCR amplified products of selected microsatellite loci were separated on 3.4% MetaPhore (TM) agarose gel and their sizes were determined by Quantity One software on GelDoc system. Locus specific alleles were identified according to their sizes, and their association with the quantitative traits was assessed by least squares analysis of variance. The analysis revealed significant association of microsatellite MCW0069 locus with chick weight, ADL0158 and MCW0258 loci with eighth week body weight (BW8), MCW0103 locus with BW16, ADL0158 locus with BW20, ADL0273 and MCW0103 loci with age at sexual maturity (ASM). The highest chick weight estimates were found in AB (183:174 bp) genotype of MCW0069 locus, whereas EE (189:189 bp) and BE (219:189 bp) genotypes of ADL0158, AB (280:273 bp) and CC (267:267 bp) genotypes of MCW0103, CD (107:102 bp) genotype of MCW0110, AE (216:147 bp) genotype of MCW0258 demonstrated the highest pre-housing body weight estimates. AB (160:147 bp) genotype of ADL0273 locus demonstrated the least age at sexual maturity (127.39 +/- 4.23 days) followed by its BB (147:147 bp) genotype. CC genotype of MCW0103 also had the least ASM (132.46 +/- 2.46 days) among its other genotypes and was better than BB genotype of ADL0273 locus. These findings suggest faster genetic progress in RIR chicken line by adapting microsatellite genotype based selection.