A restricted index selection experiment was conducted over four generations in order to investigate whether it is possible to reduce fat androstenone (AND) level with no adverse effect on sexual maturity status in young boars. Fat AND level was measured on a biopsy sample of backfat taken at 118 kg live weight. Sexual maturity status was assessed by bulbo-urethral gland (BUG) thickness measured...

Sexual maturity in poultry is controlled by a complex neural circuit located in the basal forebrain, which integrates the central and peripheral signals to activate hypothalamic gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. This study demonstrated the changes of GnRH-I, POMC and NPY mRNA transcription in hypothalamus and IGF-I and leptin levels in serum of Shaoxing ducks during puberty. Bod...