Role of Genomics in Improving Egg and Meat Production

Özet

Poultry breeding programs have been augmented with technologies such as genome-wide
association (GWAS), marker-assisted selection, genomic prediction models, and genome
editing (CRISPR/Cas9), creating significant advancement in productivity, resistance to
diseases, and quality of products. The aim of this review is to discuss how genomics
positively impacts various aspects of egg-and-meat production in poultry. The paper
discusses genetic factors that influence traits of major importance, that is, growth rate,
efficiency in feed conversion, muscle development, and egg-laying performance, emphasizing
domestic breeding aided by molecular tools and bioinformatics as a strategy to accelerate
genetic gain. Relevant findings on Norfa chickens, Japanese quail, and indigenous African
poultry suggest that breeding strategies can be designed addressing both ecological constraints
and economic demands. With beneficial changes, the review acknowledges some challenges,
including source data complexity, the ethics of the matter, and the integration of genomic
technologies into conventional breeding programs. The discoveries emphasize that meeting
the increasing global demand for high-quality animal protein with utmost care for sustaining
genetic diversity and resilience within poultry may call for a balanced approach combining
state-of-the-art genomics with sustainable management practices.