This collection provides a comprehensive review of recent developments in poultry breeding.

The book begins by reviewing the current challenges facing poultry breeding such as genetic diversity and physiological constraints. It goes on to review recent research on the genetics of key traits, from production traits such as egg production to functional traits such as bone strength, and their implications for breeding. The book then summarises key advances in genomic selection techniques and their application in broiler and layer breeding. It concludes by surveying emerging trends such as the use of epigenetics and genome editing in poultry breeding.

This collection begins by reviewing current challenges facing poultry breeding. It goes on to review recent research on the genetics of key production and functional traits. The book then summarises key advances in genomic selection techniques and concludes by surveying emerging trends such as the use of epigenetics and genome editing in poultry breeding.

Part 1 Poultry domestication, genetics and physiology
1.The origin and domestication of poultry species:Steffen Weigend, Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Germany;
2.Genetic determination of morphological and pigmentation phenotypes:Michèle Tixier-Boichard, INRA, France;
3.Genetic determination of pigmentation phenotypes:Leif Andersson, Uppsala University, Sweden;
4.Physiological challenges in poultry breeding:Douglas D. Rhoads, University of Arkansas, USA;

Part 2 Genetics and genomics of complex traits
5.Genetics and genomics of meat quality traits in poultry species:Elizabeth Le Bihan-Duval, INRA, France;
6.Genetics and genomics of egg production traits in poultry species:Anna Wolc, Iowa State University/Hy-Line, USA;
7.Genetics and genomics of feed utilization efficiency in poultry species:Behnam Abasht, University of Delaware, USA;
8.Genetics and genomics of behavioural and welfare traits in poultry species:Heng-Wei Cheng, USDA-ARS, USA;
9.Genetics and genomics of immunity in poultry species:Marie-Helene Pinard-van der Laan, INRA, France;
10.Genetics and genomics of skeletal traits:Dirk-Jan De Koning, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden;

Part 3 Use of omics in poultry breeding
11.Theory of genome wide association for QTL detection:Pascale Le Roy, INRA, France;
12.Genomic selection in poultry breeding using Bayesian methods:Luis Varona, University of Zaragoza, Spain;
13.Genomic selection using variance components based methods:Ignacy Misztal, University of Georgia, USA;
14.Application of genomic selection in commercial meat-type populations:Andreas Kranis, Roslin Institute - University of Edinburgh, UK;
15.Application of genomic selection in commercial egg-type populations:Janet Fulton, Hy-line International, USA;

Part 4 Emerging issues and future challenges in poultry breeding;
16.Breeding for small-scale family poultry:Rudra Chatterjee, ICAR - Directorate of Poultry Research, India;
17.Breeding for sustainability and plasticity in functional traits: Reality or fiction in the midst of conflicting interests:Samuel E. Aggrey, University of Georgia, USA;
18.The use of nutrigenomics in poultry breeding:Sam Dridi, University of Arkansas, USA;
19.The use of epigenetics in poultry breeding:Frederique Pitel, INRA, France;
20.The use of genome editing in poultry breeding:Mike McGrew, University of Edinburgh, UK;