This study identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that affect the body weight of chickens. Analysis of body weight showed that the Cornish breed had the highest body weight, and the Korean native chicken (Gray Brown) had the lowest body weight. TSH is composed of an α-subunit and a β-subunit, and the TSH-β gene encoding the β-subunit has been reported to be associated with obesity. In chickens, it is located on chromosome 26 and is reported to be associated with growth. The calcium-sensing receptor gene (CaSR) plays a role in the regulation of extracellular calcium homeostasis and is responsible for calcium absorption in the urinary tract, which affects the eggshell quality in poultry. It was shown that TSH-β was strongly correlated with weight in Cornish and Korean native (Gray Brown) chickens, particularly in those with the CC trait. However, CaSR showed no association with body weight in poultry; it was associated with calcium and the eggshell. Thus, selection for TSH-β can be used to produce individuals with more favorable traits in terms of body weight.

Recently, the consumption of chickens meat has been gradually increased in Korea. However, most of the chickens breeds in Korea were imported from overseas. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic distances and single nucleotide polymorphism by the mtDNA D-loop control analysis method for the Korean native chickens(red plumage, red-line plumage, Ogol) and white leghorn. For the initial investigation of the relationships between Korean native chickens(red plumage(KCR), red-line plumage(KCRD), Ogol(KCO)) with white leghorn breeds, the sequences from D-loop control region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was used. The results from phylogenetic analysis indicated that both KNC and white leghorn breeds were classified well with wild duck breeds. However, KCR was not discriminated well with KCRD. The haplotype analysis indicated that KCR and KCO have ten different haplotypes with nineteen SNPs. Three haplotypes (haplotype 1, 2, 3, 5, 17) were shared both in KNC(KCR, KCRD) and KCO. On the other hand, haplotype 4, 6, 7 was appeared only KCR and haplotype 13, 16, 18 were identified only in KCRD population. In addition, haplotype 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 19 was appeared only KCO. With further verifications, the results presented here can be used for the on servation and commercialization of the Korean native chickens. This work was supported by a grant from the “Livestock Preservation of Genetic Resources", Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic distances and specific DNA makers by the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR method for the Korean native chickens(red plumage, red-line plumage, Ogol) and white leghorn. Genomic DNA was extracted from plumage from chickens after they were slaughtered. The extracted DNA was observed by nano-spectrometer. RAPD analysis was performed using 13 different primers. Statistical analysis was made for the estimation of the genetic distance among the chicken’s and the cluster tree was drawn by using MEGA 5.05 software. Genetic relations among them were determined by RAPD analysis. The polymorphic bands were observed 72% and the rest of 28% was monomorpic. The largest genetic distance (2.266) was found between the native chickens(red, red-line) and the ogol chickens by UPGMAP method and the closest distance was observed between the ogol in korean chickens as expected. The highest genetic distance between them was estimated 2.266 and in the dendrogram analysis, among I and II within cluster II, most of the ogol chickens were in IIB, indicating the expression of the ogol color could be due to original and the ancestral genetic crossing. Thus, this genetic distance can be useful as the differential genomic information in the normal(red plumage, red-line plumage) and ogol of korean native chickens. This work was supported by a grant from the “Livestock Preservation of Genetic Resources", Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

The tyrosinase (TYR) genes have been accepted as major genes involved in the plumage pigmentation of chickens. Tyrosinase (TYR) gene is located on chromosome 1 in chicken and it is composed of five exons and four introns. TYR gene is described as a key enzyme in melanin biosynthesis. Especially, most examples of color patterns in chicken have been due to differential in the tyrosinase gene. This study was conducted to the association of feather color and sequence polymorphism in the Tyrosinase(TYR) gene was investigated using Korean native chickens(red plumage, red-line plumage, Ogol = KNC) and white leghorn(WL). From WL and KNC breed analyses, 232 differential SNPs were detected in 4th exon and 4th intron of TYR gene respectively. The genotype frequencies for 50 SNPs were compared between KCR, KCRD and KCO represented homozygous SNP types in all the analyzed SNP positions while KNC displayed various SNP types. In this study, we conclude that the variation of a wild type sequence in intron 4 of the tyrosinase gene is pigmentation of the original native chickens in korean. This work was supported by a grant from the “Livestock Preservation of Genetic Resources", Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

The HNF4α (hepatocyte nuclear factor 4, alpha) is a hepatic transcription factor related to the lipid metabolism and regulation of insulin secretion in humans. The current study about commercial broiler reported that the A543G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within HNF4α gene has an effect on fat deposition and wing yield in the chicken. This study was performed to investigate the association between the SNP within HNF4α gene and growth trait and to verify the applicability as a molecular marker for the improving the performance in Korean native chickens (KNCs). A total of 764 KNCs was collected from the livestock farm of Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology in Korea and genotyped by PCR-RFLP. The body weight measured at birth, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 weeks of age for the association analysis between chicken growth and the SNP genotype. Statistical analysis of the SNP with phenotypic traits was performed using SAS program. The KNC strain was classified by the genotypes of the A543G SNP. The frequencies of three genotypes were 0.47 (AA), 0.43 (AG) and 0.10 (GG), respectively. The SNP of HNF4α has highly significant association (p<0.001) with all-round growth in KNCs. These results suggest that the A543G SNP within HNF4α gene could be a genetic marker for the breeding in Korean native chickens.

본 시험은 한국 재래계와 도입계의 육성기(0 ~ 20주령) 성장 능력을 비교분석하기 위하여 수행하였다. 공시계는 가축유전자원 관리기관에서 종란을 인수하여 부화시킨 암수 병아리 180 수를 이용하였으며, 한국 재래계 1 계통(A)과 도입계 2계통(B, C)으로 총 3 계통의 육성률, 육성단계별 체중, 증체량, 사료 요구율, 정강이 길이 등을 조사하였다. 육성 초기(0 ~ 4주) 육성률은, A와 C계통은 98.33%로 높게 나타났으나, B계통은 91.67% 로 낮게 나타났다. 육성기 전 주령(0 ~ 20주)육성률도 C계통이 98.33%로 높게 조사 되었고, B계통이 83.33%로 낮게 조사되었다. 육성기 전 주령의 체중은 A, B계통이 C계통에 비해 높게 조사되었다(p < 0.05). 한국 재래계통인 A계통은 발생 시에는 체중이 가장 낮게 조사되었지만, 20주령에는 1.64 kg으로 가장 무거운 것으로 나타났다(p < 0.05). 계통간 사료 요구율은 0 ~ 8주령에서 C계통이 가장 높았고(p<0.05), 12 ~ 16주령에서는 B계통이 가장 높았으며(p < 0.05), 0 ~ 20주령에서는 유의적 차이가 없었다(p > 0.05). 육성 단계별 정강이 길이를 살펴보면, 0 ~ 12주령까지 B계통에서 가장 높게 나타났고, 16 ~ 20주령에서는 B와 C계통에서 높게 나타났다(p < 0.05). 마지막으로 계통간 정강이 길이 증가량은 0 ~ 8주령까지 B계통에서 가장 높게 나타났고, 8 ~ 16주령까지는 C계통에서 가장 높게 나타났다(p<0.05). 이와 같이 한국 재래계의 육성기 능력이 도입계에 비하여 다소 낮게 조사되었지만, 한국 재래계 고유 특성을 유지하고 있었다. 이러한 한국 재래계의 고유 특성들은 한국 재래계 활용에 있어 기준 자료로 이용될 것으로 사료된다(색인어 : 한국 재래계, 도입계, 육성기, 체중, 정강이 길이).

During the past dozens of years, animal species indigenous to Korea has been emerged as a symbol of healthy and well-being lifestyle. Developing new cross hybrid and making brand in Korean native chickens serve as an example of pursuing a well-being life. However, lack of systematic management. intervention from the small scaled middlemen during the multi-stages of marketing, poor hygiene at moorings and live bird market, and possibility of contacting to wild birds have been pointed out as risk factors to the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza ([1PM), especially for small back yard flocks. This study describes the schema of husbandry and marketing on Korean native chickens, and their putative associations with the outbreaks of RPM during the last two big epidemics occurred in the Republic of Korea, which were in the year of 2008 and 2010/2011.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with Ptecticus tenebrifer powder on the mortality and meat quality of Korean native chickens. A total of 40,000 Korean native chickens (1 day old, Hanhyup No. 3) were allocated to two dietary treatments (20,000 chickens in each treatment), which were fed the following: basal diet (control) and 1% of Ptecticus tenebrifer powder (T1). Feeding trials were conducted for 12 weeks, and mortality was measured weekly. At the end of the experimental period, 16 chickens (8 chickens in each treatment) were selected and slaughtered to obtain breast meat. The items used to analyze meat quality were pH, TBARS, and meat color. The weekly mortality rate was decreased by around 2 to 3 times in the T1 treatment group compared with the control group. The pH, TBARS, L*, and b* values of Korean native chicken breast were not affected by Ptecticus tenebrifer powder supplementation (p>0.05); however, a* values showed statistical significance (p<0.05). In conclusion, the addition of 1% Ptecticus tenebrifer powder reduced mortality rate and demonstrated its potential in livestock environmental management.