Response to selection for body weight at 4-week in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonic ( to improve some economical traits: Effects of generation, genetic group and realized heritability for body weight

A. Al-Rawi, Abdel-Jabbar; M. Rashad, Mohammed; M. Razuki, Waleed

	Response to selection for body weight at 4-week in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonic ( to improve some economical traits: Effects of generation, genetic group and realized heritability for body weight
iraqi poultry sciences journal
Article 1, Volume 9, Issue 1, 2015, Pages 50-66
Authors
Abdel-Jabbar A. Al-Rawi; Mohammed M. Rashad; Waleed M. Razuki
Abstract
This study was carried out at Poultry Research Station-Office of Agricultural Research –Ministry of Agriculture over period from 1/4/2013 to 20/1/2014 to investigate the effect of short-term selection in Japanese quail for 4-wk body weight (BW) to improve growth and some economical traits, as well as, estimation of selection response and realized heritability. A total of 600 quails for both sexes were used to be parents of selected and control line that randomly selected from a base population (generation 0). In each generation, pair mating of 48 sires and 48 dams was used as parents for the next generation of heavy weight (HW) line, while the parents in control (RW) and low weight (LW) lines were 24 sires and 24 dams for each. Pairs (one female and one male) were raised in cages equipped with one feeder and one waterier. Data were collected for one hatch for 2 generations. Body weight (BW) for males and females, egg weight, egg production, egg mass, fertility and hatchability of total and fertile eggs were recorded. There was a significant effect of generation on BW for males (P < 0.0014) and females (P < 0.0002), egg production (P < 0.0001) and hatchability of total eggs (P < 0.0001).Whereas, genetic group (line) was significantly (P < 0.0001) effect on all studied traits where HW line achieved best results followed by RW and LW. The genetic improvement of 4-wk BW after two generations of selection was 4, 3 and 3.4 g for females, males and both sexes respectively. The realized heritability for 4-wk BW was 0.19, 0.23 and 0.20 for females, males and both sexes respectively. Selection for 4-wk BW improved over the selection period. Results showed that there was a good response to selection for body weight at 4-week of age to improve BW for both sex .Furthermore, the major economical traits are also improved in Japanese quail birds of HW group.

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