Polymorphism of prolactin gene and its association with growth and some biometrical traits in ducks

The main aim of the study was to estimate the polymorphism of prolactin (PRL) gene and its relation with some morphological traits (body weight – BW, length of trunk with neck – LTN, length of trunk – LT, chest girth – CG, length of breast bone – LBB, length of shank – LS) of Muscovy, Pekin and Mulard ducks. A secondary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age, origin on ducks’ growth performances. Three genotypes at locus PRL/XbaI and one genotype at locus PRL/PstI were found. The results showed that Pekin ducks with the PRL/TT genotype in selected terms of evaluation characterised by higher (p < 0.05) LS and LBB values than those with the PRL/TG genotype. In Mulard ducks, PRL/XbaI polymorphism had an effect (p < 0.05) on BW and LS in birds aged 10 and 12 weeks (wk). The effect of age, origin on the growth traits of ducks was evaluated as well. All growth traits examined significantly increased with age. There was a significant (p < 0.01) effect of the ducks’ origin. Until the 7 wk of age, the Muscovies were lighter and had lower (p < 0.01) values of LTN, LT, CG, LBB, LS than Pekin and Mulard ducks. The results confirm that there were significant associations between interaction of considered factors and estimated traits