Morphometric traits and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene polymorphism of Indonesian muscovy ducks of different plumage color population

Abstract

Background and Objective: The body shape or morphological characteristics of Muscovy ducks are determined by the length of the femur, tibia, tarsometatarsus, tarsometatarsus circumference, 3rd-digit, wings and maxilla. Identification of the feather color of Muscovy ducks is important because feather color determines the physical quality of the carcass and affects the level of consumer preference. The aim of this research was to assess the genetic variation of native Indonesian Muscovy ducks based on morphometric traits and gene sequence variation of Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and its genotypic association with different feather colors. Methodology: Two hundred day-old Muscovy ducks consisting of the white and white-black feather color combination in the same proportion between male and female ducks were included in the study. Differences in body weight and morphometric measurements among the groups were evaluated by ANOVA with Systat version 13. Primer design used Clustal X, based on Cairina moschata MC1R gene, partial cds (KX013541.1) from the GenBank database, the primary forward sequence: 5’-GCTCTTCATGCTGCTGATGG-’3 and reverse primer: 5’-GATGAAGACGGTGCTGGAGA-’3. Results: The male Muscovy ducks have larger morphometric features than females. Male Muscovy ducks with the white-black feather color combination had the heaviest body weight. A general linear F-test analysis separately showed that only the neck length, length of third digit and sex significantly affected the animals' body weight. The identification of feather color of Muscovy ducks showed that there are variations within a group of white-black feather color combination of Muscovy ducks. Feather color variation was observed on the head, wings, breast, tail and plumage. The sequencing of PCR products resulted in nucleotide polymorphism. The GG genotype was observed in 293 nt in the white-black population and the CC genotype was observed in white-black and white feather colors in both male and female Muscovy ducks. Conclusion: Muscovy ducks with the white-black feather color combination had heavier body weights than those with the white feather color. The neck length can be used to predict the body weight of Muscovy ducks. Muscovy ducks had a variety of feather colors ranging from white to the white-black color combination. The MC1R gene polymorphism was observed in Muscovy ducks. Muscovy ducks with the white-black feather color grow faster and their live weight can be estimated by neck length.