Variation in the <i>ovocalyxin-32</i> Gene in Commercial Egg-Laying Chickens and its Relationship with Egg Production and Egg Quality Traits

The quality of eggshells is an important trait for commercial egg production. A number of studies have linked polymorphisms in the gene encoding the eggshell protein ovocalyxin-32 (OCX32) with eggshell features including strength and thickness. In this study, exons 2-6 of the OCX32 gene were sequenced in multiple elite commercial egg-laying lines, and SNP detection and analysis carried out using LGC’s KASP™ genotyping chemistry to identify multiple polymorphisms.