Commercial Layer Breeding: Review And Forecast

Continuous improvement in lifetime egg production per hen housed, is the most important selection criteria in layer breeding. Primary breeders will continue to invest in additional testing capacities which reflect typical field conditions in different markets. Recording more behaviour related traits and skeletal integrity parameters will complement traditional performance testing and evaluation methods. Advances in molecular biology have contributed to new techniques for selection which are more reliable and useable in both sexes. Using informative genetic markers selection candidates with special characteristics can be identified early in life and thereby accelerate improvements in egg production, egg quality, behaviour and liveability. Animal welfare plays a major role in selection. Key indicators will be nesting behaviour, general liveability, good feather cover until the end of the production cycle, and strong bones. The ultimate target will be increased cycle length in order to boost lifetime egg production per hen housed. As a consequence, less chicks for flock replacement will be necessary. Gender sorting during incubation will be standard procedure soon. Basic research in gene editing can contribute to a better understanding of health-related traits and enhance some special characteristics for improved vaccine yield from embryonated eggs.