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Productive efficiency of autochthonous breeds of monogastrics

Production efficiency is optimized when maximum sustainable productive output is achieved given the economic investment. Improving production efficiency is essential for the sustainable production of proteins of animal origin in the context of an expanding world population and climate change. Spanish autochthonous breeds can contribute to sustainable animal production.

Grupo de investigación dependiente del

Animal Breeding

Our autochthonous Spanish chicken and pig breeds are a unique genetic and cultural heritage. These breeds are highly adapted to the local Mediterranean environment; therefore, they can be used to improve sustainability of animal production systems. The utilization of autochthonous Spanish breeds of laying hens of INIA-CSIC’s Genetic Resources Conservation and Investigation Program in the context of climate change facilitates characterization of production efficiency to maximize production and/or reduce the costs of economic investments, e.g., feed costs. However, the genetic background of production efficiency of autochthonous breeds remains largely unknown. Not all autochthonous breeds are equally efficient and resilient. The last decades have seen an increase in the development and availability of molecular techniques, including genotyping with microarrays, RNA expression, and DNA sequencing. These methods can be applied to characterize the genomes of different breeds for different components of production efficiency. In addition, autochthonous breeds may harbor genetic variants that no longer exist in commercial breeds, such that crossbreeding of commercial with local breeds may combine the beneficial alleles of high production with improved resilience.

Investigation

Our main objective is to promote the utilization of autochthonous breeds of monogastrics through characterization and investigation of their production efficiency. Our research is specifically focused on phenotypic and genetic characterization of feed efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of autochthonous breeds of laying hens and pigs in the context of climate change. Understanding the production efficiency and resilience of local breeds is essential for identifying their contribution to the sustainable production of proteins of animal origin. Our group members are educated in livestock breeding and genetics; however, sustainability and resilience is investigated multidisciplinary, including aspects of nutrition, reproduction, and animal behavior and welfare. We cooperate with national and international research teams and are open to new collaborations.

Specifically, the objectives of our group are:

Scientific management of the Genetic Resources Conservation and Investigation Program of Spanish chicken breeds at “El Encín” (Alcalá de Henares, Madrid). Created in 1975, this program leaders the conservation and expansion of breed genetic material of Spanish breeds of laying hens. Currently, the “in vivo” conservation program includes 12 Spanish breeds.
Phenotypic and genetic background of feed efficiency with an emphasis on autochthonous pig and chicken breeds.
Phenotypic and genetic background of animal resilience with an emphasis on autochthonous pig and chicken breeds. Phenotypic and genetic characterization of autochthonous breeds of laying hens included in the Genetic Resources Conservation and Investigation Program, with an emphasis on genetic sexing of one-day-old chicks, external and internal egg quality, and evaluation of stress resistance and animal welfare.
Sustainability of poultry production systems using autochthonous breeds of laying hens.
Detection of genotypes in local breeds of laying hens with higher resilience that can be used in crossbreeding of commercial with local breeds, combining the beneficial alleles of high production with improved resilience.
The use of autochthonous breeds in sustainable mixed production systems, combining pig or chicken production with the production of local feed resources (e.g., local legumes).
Development of statistical methods and analysis of genetic information resulting from the use of molecular techniques, including genotyping with microarrays, RNA expression, and DNA sequencing.
Conservation and management program of red partridge (la perdiz roja).
Animal behavior and welfare of chickens and pigs.

Miembros

Productive efficiency of autochtonous breeds of monogastrics Members

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- WM Rauw, JCM Dekkers, L Gomez-Raya (2021)
  Improving animal welfare using genetic and genomic tools
  Bridging Research Disciplines to Advance Animal Welfare Science: A practical guide | 12 : 190-212
  DOI: 10.1079/9781789247893.0012
- L Gomez-Raya, WM Rauw, JCM Dekkers (2021)
  Vector space algebra for scaling and centering relationship matrices under non-Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium conditions
  Genetics Selection Evolution | 53
  DOI: 10.1186/s12711-020-00589-9
- WM Rauw, L Gomez-Raya, M Martín Pedrosa, MA Sanz Calvo, E de Mercado de la Peña, JJ Ciruelos, E Gómez Izquierdo (2021)
  Replacing soybean meal with Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) in pig diets: composition of subcutaneous fat and fresh loin, and sensory attributes of dry-cured product
  Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research | 19
  DOI: 10.5424/sjar/2021193-17787
- B. Bernal, C. Castaño, M. C. Esteso, A. Toledano-Díaz, M. A. Domínguez-González, M. G. Gil, A. López-Sebastián, J. L. Campo, E. Blesbois & J. Santiago-Moreno (2021)
  Birchen and Blue Leonesa sperm cryopreservation: a new technique for evaluating the integrity of cockerel sperm membranes
  British Poultry Science
  DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2021.1955333
- Behnamifar A, Bernal B, Torres O, Luis-Chincoya H, Gil MG, García-Casado P, Rahimi S, Woelders H, Santiago-Moreno J (2021)
  Research Note: Evaluation of two methods for adding cryoprotectant to semen and effects of bovine serum albumin on quality characteristics of cryopreserved rooster spermatozoa
  Poultry Science | 100
  DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101093
- WM Rauw, E de Mercado de la Peña, L Gomez-Raya, LA García Cortés, JJ Ciruelos, E Gómez Izquierdo (2020)
  Impact of environmental temperature on production traits in pigs
  Scientific Reports | 10
  DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58981-w
- WM Rauw, L Rydhmer, I Kyriazakis, M Øverland, H Gilbert, JCM Dekkers, S Hermesch, A Bouquet, E Gómez Izquierdo, I Louveau, L Gomez-Raya (2020)
  Prospects for sustainability of pig production in relation to climate change and novel feed resources
  Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | 100 : 3575-3586
  DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10338
- E Gómez Izquierdo, L Gomez-Raya, E de Mercado de la Peña, JJ Ciruelos, WM Rauw (2020)
  Feed efficiency can be sustained in pigs fed with locally produced Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.)
  Sustainability | 12
  DOI: 10.3390/su12103993
- WM Rauw, JM García Casco, F Gómez Carballar, E de la Serna Fito, P Palma Granados, MÁ Fernández Barroso, L Gomez-Raya (2020)
  Feed efficiency and loin meat quality in Iberian pigs
  Brazilian Journal of Animal Science | 49
  DOI: 10.37496/rbz4920200009
- L Canario, P Bijma, I David, I Camerlink, A Martin, WM Rauw, L Flatres-Grall, L Van der Zande, SP Turner, C Larzul, L Rydhmer (2020)
  Prospects for the analysis and reduction of damaging behaviour in group-housed livestock, with application to pig breeding
  Frontiers in Genetics | 11
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.611073
- Dávila SG, Torres, O, Gil, MG, Castaño, C, Toledano-Díaz, A, Santiago-Moreno, J, Campo, JL (2019)
  Anti-predator behavior in pure and hybrid red-legged partridges
  Poultry Science | 98 : 3085-3092
  DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez075
- J Santiago-Moreno, B Bernal, S Pérez-Cerezales, C Castaño, A Toledano-Díaz, MC Esteso, A Gutiérrez-Adán, A López-Sebastián, M García-Gil, SG Dávila, H Woelders, E Blesbois (2019)
  Seminal plasma amino acid profile in different breeds of chicken: Role of seminal plasma on sperm cryoresistance
  PLoS ONE | 14
  DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209910
- L Gomez-Raya, WM Rauw, JR Dunkelberger, JCM Dekkers (2019)
  Autozygosity and Genetic Differentiation of Landrace and Large White Pigs as Revealed by the Genetic Analyses of Crossbreds
  Frontiers in Genetics | 10
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00739
- AC Outhouse, ET Helm, BM Patterson, JCM Dekkers, WM Rauw, KJ Schwartz, NK Gabler, E Huff-Lonergan, SM Lonergan (2019)
  Effect of a dual enteric and respiratory pathogen challenge on swine growth, efficiency, carcass composition, and pork quality
  Journal of Animal Science | 97 : 4710-4720
  DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz332
- L Gomez-Raya, L Silió, WM Rauw, LA García-Cortés, C Rodríguez (2018)
  Extent of third-order linkage disequilibrium in a composite line of Iberian pigs
  BMC Genetics | 19
  DOI: 10.1186/s12863-018-0661-4
- ET Helm, AC Outhouse, KJ Schwartz, JCM Dekkers, SM Lonergan, WM Rauw, NK Gabler (2018)
  Impact of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Lawsonia intracellularis on the performance of pigs divergently selected for feed efficiency
  Journal of Animal Science | 96 : 462-472
  DOI: 10.1093/jas/skx074
- A Hampel, F Teuscher, L Gomez-Raya, M Doschoris, D Wittenburg (2018)
  Estimation of Recombination Rate and Maternal Linkage Disequilibrium in Half-Sibs
  Frontiers in Genetics | 9
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00186
- J Santiago-Moreno, M García-Gil, SG Dávila JL Campo, C Castaño, A Toledano-Díaz, MT Prieto, E Blesbois (2018)
  Access to pasture in an outdoor housing system affects welfare indicators and improves rooster sperm quality in two native Mediterranean breeds
  Poultry Science | 97 : 4433-4444
  DOI: 10.3382/ps/pey299
- Galván, I., Jorge, A., García-Gil, M. (2017)
  Pheomelanin molecular vibration is associated with mitochondrial ROS production in melanocytes and systemic oxidative stress and damage
  Integrative Biology (United Kingdom) | 9 : 751-761
  DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00107j
- WM Rauw, AK Johnson, L Gomez-Raya, JCM Dekkers (2017)
  A hypothesis and review of the relationship between selection for improved production efficiency, coping behavior, and domestication
  Frontiers in Genetics | 8
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00134
- WM Rauw, L Gomez-Raya (2017)
  Effects of stress on growth and development: from domestication to factory farming
  Biology of Domestic Animals | 9 : 241-265
  DOI: 10.1201/b20418
- WM Rauw, EJ Mayorga, SM Lei, JCM Dekkers, JF Patience, NK Gabler, SM Lonergan, LH Baumgard (2017)
  Effects of Diet and Genetics on Growth Performance of Pigs in Response to Repeated Exposure to Heat Stress
  Frontiers in Genetics | 8
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2017.00155
- J Santiago-Moreno, C Castaño, A Toledano-Díaz, MC Esteso, A López-Sebastián, S Villaverde-Morcillo, SG Dávila, MG Gil, E Blebois (2017)
  Successful chilling of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) sperm for use in artificial insemination
  Poultry Science | 96 : 4068-4074
  DOI: 10.3382/ps/pex176
- Rauw, W.M. (2016)
  Editorial: Improving animal welfare through genetic selection
  Frontiers in Genetics | 7
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00069
- Rauw, W.M. (2015)
  Philosophy and ethics of animal use and consumption: From Pythagoras to Bentham
  CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources | 10
  DOI: 10.1079/PAVSNNR201510016
- WM Rauw, L Gomez Raya (2015)
  Genotype by environment interaction and breeding for robustness in livestock
  Frontiers in Genetics | 6
  DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00310
- L Gomez-Raya, C Rodríguez, C Barragán, L Silió (2015)
  Genomic inbreeding coefficients based on the distribution of the length of runs of homozygosity in a closed line of Iberian pigs
  Genetics Selection Evolution | 47
  DOI: 10.1186/s12711-015-0153-1
- Abouelezz, F.M.K., Castaño, C., Toledano-Díaz, A., Esteso, M.C., López-Sebastián, A., Dávila, S.G., Gil, M.G., Cuenca, O.T., Campo, J.L., Blesbois, E., Santiago-Moreno, J. (2015)
  Successful use of artificial insemination in the production of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)
  European Journal of Wildlife Research | 61 : 645-647
  DOI: 10.1007/s10344-015-0929-1
- Dávila, S.G., Campo, J.L., Gil, M.G., Castaño, C., Santiago-Moreno, J. (2015)
  Effect of the presence of hens on roosters sperm variables
  Poultry Science | 94 : 1645-1649
  DOI: 10.3382/ps/pev125
- JL Campo, SG Dávila, MG Gil, O Torres, J Santiago-Moreno (2015)
  Fear and stress measurements in pure and hybrid red-legged partridge
  Applied Animal Behaviour Science | 166 : 123-130

Conservación in vivo e in vitro de doce poblaciones de razas españolas tradicionales de gallinas
2021 - 2023 | RGP2001-001
Implementación de un programa para la conservación y mejora de caracteres funcionales de interés cinegético en la perdiz roja (Alectoris rufa)
2017 - 2021 | RTA2017-00034-00-00
Molecular characterization of feed efficiency and reproductive traits in Iberian pigs
2017 - 2021 | AGL2016-75942-R, IBERFIRE
Sustainability of pig production through improved feed efficiency
2017 - 2020 | ERA-Net SusAn SusPig
Conservación in vivo e in vitro de doce razas españolas de gallinas
2017 - 2020 | RZP2015-0002-00-00
• Innovative management of genetic resources (WP3 – improving reproductive technologies for gene banking)
2016 - 2020 | 677353-IMAGE1
Explotación agro-ecológica basada en razas autóctonas de gallinas españolas y cultivos leñosos
2012 - 2016 | RTA2012-00060-00-00
Conservación y estudio genético de razas españolas de gallinas
2012 - 2016 | RZP2012-00001-00-00
Tecnologías reproductivas y parámetros de comportamiento para la conservación y gestión de perdiz roja (alectoris rufa) como recurso cinegético renovable
2012 - 2016 | RZ2012-00013-C02-02
Estudio de marcadores moleculares en razas de gallinas españolas y asociación con indicadores de bienestar
2010 - 2013 | RTA2010-00138-00-00