Indian Journal of Poultry Science

Polymorphic profile of transferrin (Tf) and pre-albumen (Pa) from blood samples of a long-term selected strain of chickens were studied. Polymorphism was observed for transferrin (Tf) revealing six phenotypes and also for pre-albumen (Pa) revealing three phenotypes. Tf_B allele was predominant for the Tf locus with a frequency of 0.53 while PaB (slow) allele was predominant for the Pa locus with a frequency of 0.74. Significant differences among Tf genotypes were observed for egg weight, egg mass, egg production efficiency and efficiency index. Tf^AC genotype conspicuously had delayed sexual maturity and lower egg production, rate of lay, egg weight, and egg mass while Tf^CC genotype was superior for a number of traits. Pre-albumen genotype P_a^AA had higher mature body weights, egg number, egg mass and egg production efficiency measures.