Inhibited feathering: A new dominant sex-linked gene in the Turkey

Abstract

A new mutation has been identified in the turkey that inhibits the rate of leathering. The disorder affects the number, size, and structure of feathers. At hatch, the affected poults lack flight feathers. As the birds grow, the expressivity of the disorder may vary from almost complete absence of feathers to almost a full feather covering. Feathers may be twisted and bent, barbs may be crossing each other, or the calamus may be very fragile. Amino acid com position of feathers from the affected birds is modified, Ala, Asp, Gly, Iso, and Tyr are significantly lower, and Leu is higher, Blood chemistry is also altered, with levels of alkaline phosphatase, glucose, and sodium elevated, and cholesterol decreased in mutants. The disorder is inherited as a dominant, sex-linked trait. The gene does not express itself until after day 16 of incubation, as opposed to a previously described late leathering gene. The symbol K*IF is proposed for the mutation. A potential industrial application of the trait is feather sexing of 1 day old turkeys.