Influence of seven days old weight of Manchuria strain quail on IGF-I gene expression, live weight at the age of 35 days old, and carcass weight

In this study, the relationship between the seven days old weight and the IGF-I gene expression in the breast and thigh muscles of 300 Manchuria quail was studied in a completely randomized design at 35 days of age. On the seventh day, quails were divided into three groups of light, medium, and heavy weight. The amount of IGF-I gene expression in the thigh and breast muscles of quails was evaluated using the Real-time PCR on day 35. At this age, the weight of the breasts, thighs, and live weight were measured in quails. The IGF-I gene expression was the lowest in the light weight group and the highest was in the heavy weight group. In the medium weight quails, the amount of gene expression was between the amounts in the other two groups (P<0.05). Also, all traits were higher in the heavy group than those in the light weight group (P<0.05). According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that low weight in the seven days of age will reduce IGF-I gene expression and weight at 35 days of age in the Manchuria quail. Increasing the expression of this gene in the present strain of quail can increase the growth rate. Reducing the IGF-I gene expression in the Manchuria quail reduced body weight and weight gain. Because this gene causes the rate of growth and the amount of expression of this gene was low in quail with low weight and low growth rate. Because of the role of the IGF-I gene in growth and development, an increase of the IGF-I gene expression can cause an increase in the growth in this quail strain.