The Effect of Sex-linked Barring and Rate of Feathering Genes, and of Stock, Upon Egg Yolk Cholesterol

Abstract

TAYLOR (1960), after a comprehensive search of the literature, observed that “of all the structures of the egg, the yolk seems to be the least influenced by hereditary factors.” Current interest in cholesterol as related to human health has stimulated the study of hereditary and other factors which influence yolk cholesterol level in chicken eggs. Harris and Wilcox (1958) found significant differences in egg yolk cholesterol among dams in a Randombred population of Leghorns. Edwards et al. (1960) observed significant strain or breed differences in cholesterol content of the fat of eggs. The phenotypic correlation between yolk cholesterol and egg production in a randombred population from October through December was estimated by Harris and Wilcox (1963a,b). The correlation coefficient (r) for November cholesterol and for March cholesterol was the same, −0.17. Correlation coefficients between body weight in March and yolk cholesterol in November and in March were +0.15 and +0.13, . . .