Comparison of two spectra acquisition conditions for the evaluation of genetic parameters of duck fatty liver quality

Introduction In France, over 95% of the duck fatty liver (“Foie Gras”) production comes from overfed male mule ducks, an intergeneric hybrid resulting from the mating between male Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) and female common ducks (Anas platyrhynchos). In animal genetic studies the need for a large number of samples requires simplified measurement procedures. Until now, as the composition of fatty liver is difficult to record in large numbers, no genetic parameters were available to describe such quality traits in mule duck. In the frame of an ANR research project (GENECAN), the present study aims at studying the effect of two different NIRS measurement approaches on the estimation of genetic parameters of fatty liver composition traits.