Direct and indirect contributions of molecular genetics to farm animal welfare: a review

DEMİR E., Bilginer U., BALCIOĞLU M. S., KARSLI T.

ANIMAL HEALTH RESEARCH REVIEWS, cilt.22, sa.2, ss.177-186, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Cilt numarası: 22 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2021
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1017/s1466252321000104
  • Dergi Adı: ANIMAL HEALTH RESEARCH REVIEWS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.177-186
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Climate change, molecular markers, prosperity, stress, well-being, COMPLEX VERTEBRAL MALFORMATION, URIDINE MONOPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE, LEUKOCYTE ADHESION DEFICIENCY, GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION, FACTOR-XI DEFICIENCY, MEAT QUALITY TRAITS, CANDIDATE GENES, DNA ISOLATION, POPULATION-STRUCTURE, HOLSTEIN
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Since domestication, farm animals have played a key role to increase the prosperity of humankind, while animal welfare (AW) is debated even today. This paper aims to comprehensively review the contributions of developing molecular genetics to farm animal welfare (FAW) and to raise awareness among both scientists and farmers about AW. Welfare is a complex trait affected by genetic structure and environmental factors. Therefore, the best welfare status can be achieved not only to enhance environmental factors such as management and feeding practices, but also the genetic structure of animals must be improved. In this regard, advances in molecular genetics have made great contributions to improve the genetic structure of farm animals, which has increased AW. Today, by sequencing and/or molecular markers, genetic diseases may be detected and eliminated in local herds. Additionally, genes related to diseases or adaptations are investigated by molecular techniques, and the frequencies of desired genotypes are increased in farm animals to keep welfare at an optimized level. Furthermore, stress on animals can be reduced with DNA extraction from stool and feather samples which reduces physical contact between animals and veterinarians. Together with molecular genetics, advances in genome editing tools and biotechnology are promising to improve FAW in the future.