Program Wednesday, 08. November 2023
Opening
13:00–13:15
Steffen Weigend, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany
Session 1: Genetic engineering applied in chickens
13:15–16:00
Chairs: Rudolf Preisinger & Kellie Watson
Program Session 1: Genetic engineering applied in chickens
13:15–13:45 | Genetic modification of Z-Chromosome to avoid embryonic development of male chicks
Yuval Cinnamon, The Volcani Center, Israel
13:45–14:15 | Enhancing Chicken Immunity: Unleashing the Power of Gene Editing
Benjamin Schusser, Technische Universität München, Germany
14:15–14:45 | Chicken Primordial Germ Cells – Challenges and Opportunities in a Genebank Context
Stefanie Altgilbers, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany
14:45–15:00 | General discussion – Short oral presentations (selected from abstracts)
15:00–15:15 | Production of genetically altered chickens in a Specified Pathogen Free (SPF) context: challenges and recent advances
Dominique Meunier, University of Edinburgh, UK
15:15–15:30 | PCR analysis for in-ovo sexing of chicken embryos
Carla van der Pol, HatchTech, Netherlands
15:30–15:45 | Improved technology of CRISPR/CAS9-mediated gene knock-out and gene editing in chicken as an approach to chicken resistance to viral diseases
Jiri Hejnar, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
15:45–16:00 | General Discussion
Coffee break
16:00–16:30
Poster Session
16:30–18:30
Chair: Steffen Weigend & Ahmad Reza Sharifi
Poster Viewing and Welcome Reception
18:30–21:30
Program Thursday, 09. November 2023
Session 2: Genetic resources for breeding in organic agriculture
09:00–12:30
Chairs: Steffen Weigend & Pavel Trefil
Programm Session 2: Genetic resources for breeding in organic agriculture
09:00–09:30 | Requirements for and possibilities of breeding for organic farming
Thomas Schneider, Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, Germany | Dirk Hinrichs, Universität Kassel, Germany
09:30–09:45 | Discussion | Short oral presentations of case studies
09:45–10:00 | Genetic management of French local breeds and their use in alternative farming systems
Romuald Rouger, SYSAAF, France
10:00–10:15 | Innovative Ways of Regional Sustainable Use of Animal Genetic Resources in Domestic Chickens
Steffen Weigend, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany
10:15–10:30 | Establishing a breeding program for dual purpose chickens under certified organic farming conditions in Germany – A case study
Christiane Keppler, Gallicon Poultry Consulting, Germany
10:30–10:45 | General discussion
Coffee break
10:45–11:15
PhD Award Session
11:15–12:30
Chairs: Michael Grashorn & Steffen Weigend
PhD Award Session
11:15–11:35 | Genomic prediction of commercial layers’ bone strength across furnished cages and floor housings
Mohammed Sallam, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
11:35–11:55 | The heritability of maxillary beak shape traits and their relationship to production and egg quality traits in a White Leghorn pure line population
Sarah Struthers, Scotland’s Rural College, UK
11:55–12:15 | Is it possible to breed for optimized gut microbiota composition to improve efficiency in poultry?
Valentin Haas, University of Hohenheim, Germany
12:15–12:30 | General discussion
Lunch break
12:30–13:30
Session 3: Biological limits of breeding
13:30–15:15
Chairs: Elisabeth Duval & Martino Cassandro
Program Session 3: Biological limits breeding
13:30–14:00 | Breast muscle myopathies – do they limit broiler breeding?
Avigdor Cahaner, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Short oral presentations of case studies
14:00–14:15 | Transcriptional impact of the naked neck genotype on the development of the Musculus complexus in naked neck broiler chickens
Alexander Mott, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Germany
14:15–14:25 | Discussion
14:25–14:55 | Skeleton integrity & Laying performance / Keel Bones
Mike Toscano, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Short oral presentations of case studies
14:55–15:15 | Combined presentation (#6 & #52): Developing a practical phenotype for laying hen bone quality & Tibial X-ray density measurement in a White Leghorn pure line population
Ian Dunn, The University of Edinburgh, UK | Björn Andersson, Lohmann Breeders, Germany
15:15–15:30| General discussion
Coffee break
15:30–16:00
Session 4: Genetic approaches to improve welfare and resilience
16:00–17:30
Chairs: Michele Boichard & Olivier Demeure
Program Session 4: Genetic approaches to improve welfare
16:00–16:35 | Behaviour genetics to help improve chicken welfare
Julie Collet; Nicolas Bédère, INRAE, France
16:35–16:45 | Discussion | Short oral presentations of case studies
16:45–17:00 | Genetic background of natural and induced antibody response in layer chickens
Anna Wolc, Iowa State University, USA
17:00–17:15 | The microbiome as a feature of multi-environment selection
Richard Bailey, Aviagen Ltd., UK
17:15–17:30 | General discussion
WG3 Business Meeting
17:30–19:00
Chair: Steffen Weigend
Gala Dinner – Hotel Leonardo
20:00–22:00
Program Friday, 10. November 2023
Session 5: New phenotyping methods in poultry breeding
09:00–10:40
Chairs: Avigdor Cahaner & Yuval Cinnamon
Program Session 5: New phenotyping methods in poultry breeding
09:00–09:40 | New phenotyping methods in poultry breeding
Pauline Willemsen & Yves Jego, Institut de Sélection Animale, Hendrix Genetics, Netherlands
09:40–09:50 | Discussion | Short oral presentations of case studies
09:50–10:05| Genetic parameters for lifetime locomotor activity in group-housed broilers recorded using a radio frequency identification system
Esther Ellen Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands
10:05–10:20 | Genetics of gait score in broilers
Dagmar Kapell, Aviagen Limited, UK
10:20–10:35 | General discussion
Coffee break
10:35–11:00
Session 6: Genomic developments in other poultry species
11:00–13:00
Chairs: David Cavero & Milan Tyller
Program Session 6: Genomic developments in other poultry species
11:00–11:30 | Latest development in Turkey breeding
Valentin Kremer, Speaker from Aviagen Turkeys Ltd., UK
11:30–12:00 | Latest development in Duck breeding
Julien Fablet, ORVIA, Gourmaud Selection, France
12:00–12:15| Discussion | Short oral presentations of case studies
12:15–12:30 | Main challenges for red partridge mating in cage-free system: reproduction efficiency, pedigree recording, and management of genetic diversity
Sophie Brard-Fudulea, SYSAAF, France
12:30–12:45 | Genomic diversity and population structure of twelve Italian local turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations
Medhat Saleh, Bari University, Italy
12:45–13:00 | General discussion
Closing
13:00–13:10
Steffen Weigend, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany
WPSA Workshop – Limits of genetic intervention: Solving problems of cage-free housing
13:30–15:15
WPSA Workshop
You can register for this workshop via our online form.
Are you already registered for the ESPG? Then please write us a message and we will book the workshop for you: espg@eventlab.org
The workshop is free of charge.
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Limits of genetic intervention: Solving problems of cage-free housing
Cage-free housing systems are associated with health, production, and welfare problems (e.g., keel bone fracture, piling, feather and toe pecking). Genetic interventions are and will remain the most likely means to resolve these problems, but problems persist and require novel methodology. Although no single reason exists, the complexity of cage-free housing introduces many novel challenges that make phenotyping and incorporation of relevant traits into modern breeding programs problematic. For instance, how can we phenotype within commercially relevant settings? In terms of toe and feather pecking, we can identify the victims, but how to identify the initiator?
To discuss the limits of conventional selection methods and opportunities for novel strategies, Dr. Michael Toscano (Universität Bern, CH) will be organizing a workshop (Friday, 10. November, 1330-1515) immediately following the 2023 European Symposium on Poultry Genetics. Lectures will be provided on the topic from Dr. Toscano and Ms. Pauline Willemsen (Hendrix Genetics, NL) followed by an open discussion of the topic. To allow for greater participation, lunch in the form of sandwiches and canned drinks will be provided within the venue.
To participate in the workshop and allow preparation of lunch items, please register here: TBA
The workshop will be supported with funds from Geronimo project which receives funding from European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 101000236. The workshop content reflects the views only of the author, and not the European Commission (EC). The EC is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
Scientific Committee
Elisabeth Duval – INRAE, France
Michele Tixier-Boichard – INRAE, France
Kellie Watson – Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Teun van de Braak – Hendrix Genetics, The Netherlands
Avigdor Cahaner – Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Martino Cassandro – University of Padova, Italy
David Cavero – H&N INTERNATIONAL GMBH, Germany
Yuval Cinnamon – The Volcani Center, Israel
David Cavero – H&N INTERNATIONAL GMBH, Germany
Yuval Cinnamon – The Volcani Center, Israel
Oliver Demeure – Grimaud Frères, France
Rudolf Preisinger – EW-Group, Germany
Pavel Trefil – Biopharm, Czech Republic
Milan Tyller – Dominant CZ, Czech Republic
Steffen Weigend – Freidrich Loeffler-Institut, Germany