Genetic parameters of feeding behaviour traits in ducks bred for foie gras production.

The mule duck accounts for over 90% of French foie gras production, a sector where feed represents two-thirds of production costs. This study focuses on analysing the feeding behaviours of the mule duck and its parental populations (Pekin and Muscovy) using automated feeders. To assess feed efficiency, feed conversion ratio and residual feed intake were analysed, along with six traits derived at the daily and meal levels.

Maternal dietary methionine restriction alters hepatic expression of one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic mechanism genes in the ducklings.

Background: Embryonic and fetal development is very susceptible to the availability of nutrients that can interfere with the setting of epigenomes, thus modifying the main metabolic pathways and impacting the health and phenotypes of the future individual. We have previously reported that a 38% reduction of the methyl donor methionine in the diet of 30 female ducks reduced the body weight of their 180 mule ducklings compared to that of 190 ducklings from 30 control females. The maternal methionine-restricted diet also altered plasmatic parameters in 30 of their ducklings when compared to that of 30 ducklings from the control group.

Maternal dietary methionine restriction alters the expression of energy metabolism genes in the duckling liver.

Background: In mammals, the nutritional status experienced during embryonic development shapes key metabolic pathways and influences the health and phenotype of the future individual, a phenomenon known as nutritional programming. In farmed birds as well, the quantity and quality of feed offered to the dam can impact the phenotype of the offspring. We have previously reported that a 38% reduction in the intake of the methyl donor methionine in the diet of 30 female ducks during the growing and laying periods - from 10 to 51 weeks of age - reduced the body weight of their 180 mule ducklings compared to that of 190 ducklings from 30 control females.

Application of Metabolomics to Identify Hepatic Biomarkers of Qualities in Duck.

is a traditional dish in France that contains 50 to 60% of lipids. The high-fat content of the liver improves the organoleptic qualities of and reduces its technological yield at cooking (TY). As the valorization of the liver as products is strongly influenced by the TY, classifying the in their potential technological quality before cooking them is the main challenge for producers.

Identification of Plasmatic Biomarkers of Qualities in Duck by Metabolomics.

The is an emblematic product of French gastronomy composed of waterfowl fatty liver. The organoleptic qualities of this product depend on the liver characteristics such as liver weight (LW) and technological yield (TY) at cooking. One of the main issues for producers is to classify the with high or low technological quality before cooking them.

Evolution of liver fattening and foie gras technological yield during the overfeeding period in mule duck.

In foie gras production the technological yield after the cooking process is one of the main issues of processors as it is closely linked to the cooking melting rate. This rate is subjected to strict laws and regulations since it directly affects the organoleptic and technological qualities of this gourmet product. The objective of the study was to better understand the liver fattening and the technological yield decrease during the overfeeding kinetics.

Dietary methionine deficiency reduces laying performances of female common ducks and impacts traits of interest of their mule ducklings.

The effects of maternal nutrition on offspring phenotypes have been mainly documented over the past years in mammals, and are now studied in poultry as well. In the present study, we investigated the effects of a reduced level of dietary Methionine (Met) on laying performances of common laying ducks and their impacts on the phenotype of their mule ducklings. A total of 60 female laying ducks were divided into 2 dietary treatments at 10 wk of age.

Metabolomic study of fatty livers in ducks: Identification by 1H-NMR of metabolic markers associated with technological quality.

The control of fatty liver fat loss during cooking is a major issue. Previous studies showed that fat loss was influenced by bird production factors and liver technological treatments. However, part of the variability in fat loss remained uncontrolled.

Genetic susceptibility to S. aureus mastitis in sheep: differential expression of mammary epithelial cells in response to live bacteria or supernatant.

Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent pathogen for mastitis in dairy ruminants and is responsible for both clinical and subclinical mastitis. Mammary epithelial cells (MEC) represent not only a physical barrier against bacterial invasion but are also active players of the innate immune response permitting infection clearance. To decipher their functions in general and in animals showing different levels of genetic predisposition to Staphylococcus in particular, MEC from ewes undergoing a divergent selection on milk somatic cell count were stimulated by S.

Gene expression profiling of dendritic cells reveals important mechanisms associated with predisposition to Staphylococcus infections.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen of humans and animals and emerging antibiotic-resistant strains have further increased the concern of this health issue. Host genetics influence susceptibility to S. aureus infections, and the genes determining the outcome of infections should be identified to find alternative therapies to treatment with antibiotics.

Transcriptomic analysis of milk somatic cells in mastitis resistant and susceptible sheep upon challenge with Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: The existence of a genetic basis for host responses to bacterial intramammary infections has been widely documented, but the underlying mechanisms and the genes are still largely unknown. Previously, two divergent lines of sheep selected for high/low milk somatic cell scores have been shown to be respectively susceptible and resistant to intramammary infections by Staphylococcus spp. Transcriptional profiling with an 15K ovine-specific microarray of the milk somatic cells of susceptible and resistant sheep infected successively by S.