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Estimation of heritability for heterophil:lymphocyte ratio in chickens by restricted maximum likelihood. Effects of age, sex, and crossing.

The objectives of the current study were to estimate the heritability of the heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and to evaluate the effects of age, sex, and crossing on that ratio. There were three different experiments. In Experiment 1, we used a total of 711 birds from two generations with complete pedigree of a Spanish breed of chickens (Quail Castellana) to estimate the heritability for the leukocyte ratio at 36 wk of age by restricted maximum likelihood. The estimated heritability (0.59 +/- 0.09) indicated that leukocyte ratio should easily respond to selection. Heritabilities for heterophil and lymphocyte numbers were also high (0.56 +/- 0.07 and 0.65 +/- 0.07). In Experiment 2, leukocyte ratio differences among ages and sexes were investigated at 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 wk, in 576 birds from the same breed. Males showed significantly greater heterophil to lymphocyte ratios than females at the onset of sexual maturity and as adults. Significant variations with age for leukocyte ratio were observed in both sexes, which were mainly related to onset of sexual maturity, from which the leukocyte ratio increased more or less continuously. In females, the effect of age was also significant on heterophil and lymphocyte numbers. Finally, in Experiment 3, crossing effects were evaluated in 96 birds from a cross between the Quail Castellana and a White Leghorn population at 8 wk of age. The negative heterosis percentages found in the F1 and F2 generations were significant (-26% and -36%, respectively).