Integrated blood transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal potential biomarkers associated with residual feed intake in meat ducks.

ABSTRACT: Enhancing feed efficiency is central to improving both the economic viability and environmental sustainability of poultry production. Although previous research has documented how intestinal, hepatic, and muscular nutrient metabolism contributes to feed efficiency variation, less is known about corresponding differences in circulating blood. Residual feed intake (RFI) was measured in small-sized meat ducks from 21 to 42 days of age. From a natural population of 800 ducks, the eight individuals with the highest RFI and the eight with the lowest RFI were selected to form the low RFI (LRFI, RFI = -14.95) and high RFI (HRFI, RFI = 11.72) groups, respectively. Blood samples were collected at 21 days of age for plasma biochemical analysis, metabolomic profiling, and whole-blood transcriptomic an

SUBMITTER: Zhuang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12857288 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature