3rd International Poultry Meat Congress

O 01 Contribution of Genetic Selection and Breeding Structures to the
Economic Development of the Poultry Industry
Paul M. Hocking
Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh,
Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK EH5 9RG
Summary
The rapid increase in the supply of cheap cereals following the end of the second world war,
accompanied by the adoption of technology for large scale housed production systems, including
environmental controls and vaccination to control disease, was associated with the provision
of specialised hybrids selected for rapid growth and increased feed efficiency. In a relatively
short time chicken meat developed from a luxury product to became relatively cheap and
affordable. Specialised international companies were established to supply various components
of intensive broiler production systems. An essential component of these developments was
genetic selection of lines of chickens that exploited the potential of these production systems.
Breeding programmes were developed that utilised sophisticated statistical techniques and
methods for measuring “new” phenotypes, including welfare and health related traits, such that
by 2000 about 85% of the improvement in productivity could be attributable to genetic changes
and only 15% to improved nutrition. The development of specialised male and female lines of
broilers maximised genetic gains in the final broiler and crossbreeding exploited hybrid vigour
for reproduction and fitness traits. Parallel development of efficient breeding systems for rapidly
multiplying genetic improvement to commercial flocks was made possible by the exceptional
reproductive potential of the chicken. The feed efficiency of modern broilers surpasses that of
ruminants, pork and alternative sources of poultry meat. This in turn contributes to reducing
the demand for arable land and the environmental impact of producing meat. The demand for
broiler meat is predicted to more than double by 2050 due to the increasing size of the human
population and by the increased demand associated with rising affluence in developing nations.
Genetic selection of broiler chickens has therefore made by far the largest contribution to the
economic development of the poultry meat industry. Furthermore it is likely that broiler meat
will continue to increase at the expense of alternative sources of animal protein and make a
substantial contribution to reducing the impact of meat production on the environment.
Alongside innovations in management and technical advice, genetic selection in balanced
breeding programmes will continue to make a substantial contribution to solve problems that
arise in the future through the development of new traits, new methods for measuring old traits
and the adoption of novel genetic techniques.
Introduction
The period from 1950 to 1975 saw the rapid development of farming in many parts of the
world from labour intensive, mixed livestock and crop systems to increased specialisation,
mechanisation and widespread use of artificial fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides.
Crop yields increased, cereals became cheaper and as a consequence it was became profitable to
feed animals on high energy, high protein cereal sources. These developments were associated
with the creation of organisations that circumvented traditional pedigree breeding structures and
adopted objective breeding programmes based on scientific principles. Alongside the resulting
1